Surface Patterning for the Control of Receptor Clustering and Molecular Forces of Integrin-Mediated Adhesions.

Surface nanopatterning allows for the creation of spatially controlled binding sites for extracellular matrix ligands and the modulation of receptor binding sites. Here we describe the preparation of gold nanopatterned substrates using diblock micellar nanolithography to immobilize integrin ligands at defined spacing and combined with molecular tension sensors to measure molecular forces as function of integrin lateral clustering.