Design of novel 2D and 3D biointerfaces using self-organization to control cell behavior

Background: The design of biocompatible 2D surfaces and 3D nano/micro topographies based on self-organization has a variety of potential applications in medical devices and tissue engineering. We have reported that biocompatible 2D surface using poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) and honeycomb-patterned 3D films with regular interconnected pores that is formed by self-organization. Scope of Review: We highlight that 1) the reasons for this compatibility by comparing the structure of water in hydrated PMEA to the water structure of other polymers and 2) the reasons that 3D films exerted a strong influence on normal, cancer and stem cell morphology, proliferation, differentiation, cytoskeleton, focal adhesion, and functions including matrix production profiles. Major Conclusions: 1) We hypothesized that intermediate water, which prevents the biocomponents from directly contacting the polymer surface or non-freezing water on the polymer surface, plays an important role in the excellent biocompatibility. 2) The cellular response to 3D films originates from the regularly aligned adsorbed proteins determined by the pore structure of the film. General Significance: It is expected that combining the biocompatible 2D surfaces and 3D nano/micro topographies will provide an effective strategy for medical devices and tissue engineering scaffolds. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Nanotechnologies - Emerging Applications in Biomedicine.