Table 1.

Pro-neural effects following presentation of micro- and nano-scale topographies to stem cells.

Topography	Material	Dimensions	Cells	Outcome	Reference
Nanofibers	Polyethersulfone	283 nm 749 nm 1452 nm	Adult rat hippocampal NSCs	40% ↑ in oligodendocytes with 283 nm fibers; 20% ↑ in neuronal cells with 749 nm fibers; reduced viability with 1452 nm fibers.	61
	Polycaprolactone	250 nm	ESCs treated with retinoic acid	Nestin expression in 40% of cells 14 days after plating on fibers.	63
	Poly-L-lactic acid	250 nm 1250 nm	C17.2 stem cell line	Accelerated neurite out-growth for cells on 250 nm fibers compared to 1250 nm fibers.	62
	Polyurethane	360 nm	Human ESCs	>80% expression of neuronal markers beyond 2 weeks on fibers compared to predominantly glial cells without fibers.	68
	Self-assembling scaffolds with pentapeptide epitope IKVAV	3D network of nanofibers 5-8 nm in diameter	Murine neural progenitors	Rapid differentiation into neurons (35% TUJ1+ after 1 day) in comparison to controls.	67
Pillars, pits and grooves	PDMS, fibronectin coat	600 nm ridge with 600 nm spacing, 600 nm height	Human ESC line	Nanoscale grooves ↓ proliferation, ↑ alignment.	75
	Pillars of silicon sputter-coated with tantalum	600-2400 nm height; 1000-6000 nm laterally	Murine ESC lines	Pillar spacing of 2000-4000 nm optimal for undifferentiated cells; greater differentiation potential on 600 nm height.	78
	PDMS, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylale coat	Pillars with height varying from 35 to 400 nm	Murine ES-derived neural precursors	↑ neuronal yield by ↑ pillar height; pillars ↑ neuronal yield compared to flat surfaces.	77
	Polyurethane scrylate	Grooves with 350 nm width and spacing; 500 nm height	Human ESC line	Neuronal differentiation noted within 5 days in the absence of chemical agents.	72
	PDMS	Grooves with 350 nm, 1 µm, or 10 µm width	Mesenchymal stem cells	↑ neuronal differentiation on 350 nm widths versus microscale features.	73