Cover Picture: Activation of Integrin Function by Nanopatterned Adhesive Interfaces (ChemPhysChem 3/2004)

• Published in: Chemphyschem Vol. 5; no. 3; p. 293
• Main Authors: Arnold, Marco, Cavalcanti-Adam, Elisabetta Ada, Glass, Roman, Blümmel, Jacques, Eck, Wolfgang, Kantlehner, Martin, Kessler, Horst, Spatz, Joachim P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 19.03.2004
• Subjects: cell adhesion; integrin; nanopatterning; self-assembly; surfaces
• ISSN: 1439-4235; 1439-7641
• DOI: 10.1002/cphc.200490013

The cover picture shows the first demonstration of cell adhesion activation through a nanoadhesive pattern with single integrin resolution. Scanning electron microscopy images nanoscopic 6‐nm large Au particles as white dots, which are functionalized with cell ligands and organized in a square pattern. The free glass substrate area between the Au is covered with a biologically inert polymer, thereby avoiding protein or cell interactions with the glass. A few cell lamellipodia experience this environment and adhere entirely to the Au–nanoparticle pattern squares. The substrate forms a well‐defined, rigid adhesion pattern where Au particles control integrin–integrin interactions in focal adhesions by their separation distance. A separation between single intergrins of ≥73 nm results in limited cell attachment and spreading, and dramatically reduces the formation of focal adhesion and actin stress fibers. The range of 58–73 nm is found to be a universal length scale for integrin clustering and activation, since these properties are shared by a variety of cultured cells. Find out more in the Communication by Spatz et al. on page 383.