SEMINAR    Thursday, November 9th, 2006 - h. 15:00 Auditorium B. Touschek    S. Carnazza (Messina U.) New perspectives in cell adhesion technology Abstract In this presentation, after recalling the basic principles of cell adhesion, I will present a review of cell adhesion technology, its potential applications as well as near and long term perspectives. Both eukaryotic and microbial cell responses to abiotic surfaces will be analysed and related to the physico-chemical properties of the biomaterial surface. In the most recent biotechnological applications, special attention is directed to the spatial controlled adhesion methods, very important in biomedicine, particularly in regenerative medicine (including tissue engineering), and in BioMEMS applications. One of the crucial features in the fabrication of effective cell-based biosensors is the localized geometric confinement of cells, without losing their viability and sensing capability. I will present here recent results on surface physico-chemical and biological functionalization aimed to obtain mammalian cell patterns as well as microbial arrays, nano-materials and cantilever-based nano-devices.