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A. Daskalova, C. Nathala, P. Kavatzikidou, A. Ranella, R. Szoszkiewicz, W. Husinsky, C. Fotakis:
"Fs laser processing of bio-polymer thin films for studying cell-to-substrate specific response";
Applied Surface Science, 382 (2016), 178 - 191.

tThe use of ultra-short pulses for nanoengineering of biomaterials opens up possibilities for biological,medical and tissue engineering applications. Structuring the surface of a biomaterial into arrays withmicro- and nanoscale features and architectures, defines new roadmaps to innovative engineering ofmaterials. Thin films of novel collagen/elastin composite and gelatin were irradiated by Ti:sapphire fslaser in air at central wavelength 800 nm, with pulse durations in the range of 30 fs. The size and shapeas well as morphological forms occurring in the resulted areas of interaction were analyzed as a functionof irradiation fluence and number of pulses by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The fs interaction regimeallows generation of well defined micro porous surface arrays.In this study we examined a novel composite consisting of collagen and elastin in order to create abiodegradable matrix to serve as a biomimetic surface for cell attachment. Confocal microscopy imagesof modified zones reveal formation of surface fringe patterns with orientation direction alongside thearea of interaction. Outside the crater rim a wave-like topography pattern is observed. Structured, on ananometer scale, surface array is employed for cell-culture experiments for testing cell´s responses tosubstrate morphology. Mice fibroblasts migration was monitored after 3 days cultivation period usingFESEM. We found that fibroblasts cells tend to migrate and adhere along the laser modified zones. Theperformed study proved that the immobilized collagen based biofilms suite as a template for successfulfibroblasts cell guidance and orientation. Fs laser induced morphological modification of biomimeticmaterials exhibit direct control over fibroblasts behaviour due to induced change in their wettabilitystate.

BiopolymersFemtosecond laser microprocessingNanotopographySurface modificationTissue engineeringa