other factors such as groove width and especially depth are more significant. With this

knowledge, and with future work, ideal values to fine tune materials may be possible to

direct and control cell growth.


 Future Work

 The importance of controlling cell growth and behavior cannot be underestimated

and the phenomenon of contact guidance is only recently approaching maturity. Several

areas for future study and improvement are possible and are listed below.

Surface Treatment

 Optimization of plasma treatment needs to be examined, as well as the reasons for

 the unwanted effects. Argon RFGD at 50 W for 5 minutes is a standard treatment

 in the literature, and the reasons for the deviations should be investigated.

 Tether adhesion molecules to silicone surfaces to examine modulus affects with a

 permanently bound treatment.

Topographical Design

 Smaller ridge widths and an intermediate groove depth should be examined since

 the data shows that smaller ridge widths improve contact guidance, but the deeper

 groove depths mask the effect of modulus.

 Ridge widths on the order of 0.5 rim, 1 rim, and 2.5 [m would give useful data as

 to the limits of the ridge effect.

 Opposite or "negative" designs of the current elastomers would be useful in

 seeing the effect of a constant 5 mrn ridge separated by varying smooth areas.