Nanogrooved microdiscs for bottom-up modulation of osteogenic differentiation.

Grooved topographical features have effectively modulated cell differentiation on two-dimensional substrates. To transpose patterning into a 3D environmment, nanogrooved microdiscs, "topodiscs", are produced as cell carriers for bottom-up cell-mediated assembly. While enhancing cell proliferation, topodiscs led to the formation of bone-like aggregates, even in culture medium lacking osteoinductive factors.