Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the effects of three-dimensional microstructures of silicon and glass substrates on the growth of breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Methods: Three-dimensional microstructures (grooves, pentagons, and gear wheels) of silicon and glass substrates were fabricated by micro-fabrication technology, and were then co-cultured with MCF-7 cells for 1- 4 days. Phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the distribution, size, shape, and growth of MCF-7 cells, MTT was used to analyze the effects of the microstructures on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, and flow cytometry was used to analyze the amounts of apoptosis cells. Results: These microstructures, including grooves, pentagram and gear wheels, were successfuly fabricated by micro-fabrication technology. MCF-7 cells were prone to grow on the bottom of grooves, pentagram and gear wheels; few cells were observed on the top and sidewalls of microstructures. Round suspension cells gradually increased as the cell culture time increased. Few cells existed on the surface of control silicon substrate, and the adhesive cells were easily detached from the substrate; however, abundant spindle-shaped MCF-7 cells grew evenly on the surface of glass substrate. MTT analysis showed that as the culture time increased, the inhibition of cell proliferation on the microstructures on the glass and silicon substrates decreased gradually (P<0.01,P<0.05); flow cytometry analysis showed that as the culture time increased, apoptosis cell number also increased gradually (P<0.01,P<0.05). Conclusion: Micron level microstructures, such as grooves, pentagram and gear wheels on the substrates of silicon and glass, can inhibit the growth of MCF-7 cells and induce cell apoptosis, which hold much potential for application in tumor therapy.