Spatial distributions on surfaces from patterns to gradients

In biological adhesion, roughness also plays an important role. For example, roughness is routinely used to enhance cell adhesion to titanium implants that are designed to integrate with bone, such as those in hip-joint or tooth replacements. However, it is also clear that roughness does not affect the adhesion of all cells in a similar manner , and the biochemical aspects of cell responses to roughness remain a much-explored research topic (see Chapter 3c). 

surface structure is an important factor in determining surface properties, and represents an additional parameter that can be varied in order to tailor material surfaces for a particular application. Much research remains to be done in this area. 

Hammarback, S.L. Palm, L.T. Furcht, P.C. Letourneau. Guidance of Neurite Outgrowth by Pathways of Substratum-Adsorbed Laminin. J. Neurosci. Res. (1985) Vol. 13(1-2) pp. 213 220. 

Michel, J.W. Lussi, G. Csucs, I. Reviakine, G. Danuser, B. Ketterer, J.A. Hubbell, M. Tex-tor, N.D. Spencer. Selective Molecular Assembly Patterning A New Approach to Micro- and Nanochemical Patterning of Surfaces for Biological Applications. Langmuir (2002) Vol. 18(8) pp. 3281-3287. 

Recently, not only molecules, but also particles, have been patterned onto surfaces, by means of a silicone-rubber-based printing step, opening the way to a patterning approach for the fabrication of submicron-scale devices . 

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Spatial distributions on surfaces from patterns to gradients... 

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