The effect of topographic characteristics on cell migration velocity

The migration of cells on structured surfaces is known to be affected by its surface topography. Although the effects of topography have been extensively investigated the crucial parameters determining the cell–surface reaction are largely unknown. The present study was performed to describe and to define the role of groove/elevation (ridge) dimensions at the micrometre scale on fibroblast cell migration by correlating cell shape, migration angle α, cell orientation β and velocity with these dimensions. For this a quantitative method was developed. We could show that the surface structures significantly influenced migration direction α, cell orientation β and mean velocity, as well as migration speed in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the grooves/elevations in a surface structure dependant way. Cell migration velocity parallel, respectively, perpendicular to the structures was significantly affected by the geometries and dimensions of the substratum. Surface structures were not able to significantly affect distribution patterns of cell shapes. Overall, it could be shown that differently structured surfaces influenced the cells but no crucial feature could be clearly identified, suggesting that the reaction of the surface structure might be far more complex than generally is assumed.