Activation of Integrin Function by Nanopatterned Adhesive Interfaces

Sticky dots: To study the function behind the molecular arrangement of single integrins in cell adhesion, the authors designed a hexagonally close‐packed rigid template of cell adhesive gold nanodots by means of micellar diblock copolymer lithography. A critical separation length of ≥73 nm between the adhesive dots dramatically reduces cell functions due to restricted integrin clustering (see picture). The range between 58–73 nm is proposed to be a universal length scale for integrin clustering and activation, since these properties are shared by a variety of cultured cells lines.