Some of the limitations of the optical profilometer system are a result of the scale

and arrangement of the features. As can be seen by comparison of Figure 3.11 and

Figure 3.12, both have similar shapes of ridges, with the sidewalls sloping downward so

that the walls appear to not be vertical. Since the profilometer is non-contact and requires

the reflectance of light, as the features get deeper and closer together, some data can be

lost if the magnification is not high enough or if the material does not reflect light out of

small features. For spacing greater than 5 rim, and magnifications of 50X or more, this

problem is not as great. This instrument is a good addition to the analytical capabilities

of a researcher since it is easy and quick to use with little to no sample modification, and

gives a quality replication of the image surface in three dimensions. With the analysis

reported in this chapter, coupled with the background in contact guidance and cell

growth, a better understanding of the factors and variables involved in the growth of cells

on textured surfaces is possible.