Engineered nano-bio cellular interfaces: Vertically aligned silicon nanowire arrays for human cell manipulation and neuronal progenitor cell differentiation

This thesis uses a nanostructured platform to characterise how nanoscale topography influences human cell behaviour, with a specific focus on human neural stem cells. Later chapters explore in detail the impact of different vertically-aligned silicon nanowire topographies on human neural stem cell behaviour and cell fate determination. The data presented emphasise that the impact of a certain nanotopography is likely to vary for different human cell types and developmental states. The direct and controllable influence of nanotopographies on human cells may prove this platform useful in disease modelling.