In biology, a topological structure refers to the specific spatial arrangement of the internal organization of a cell or organism, including factors such as the relative positions of the cells, nature of the connections, shape, and size. Topological structures can regulate the behaviors of cells and affect their biological processes, such as growth, differentiation, and migration, which are crucial for the formation of tissues and organs as well as the development of overall structure and function. Hence, they are capable of providing a new direction for future biomedical research with far-reaching implications for human health and disease treatment.

Laser micro-nano fabrication technology is an advanced manufacturing technology that enables the fabrication of micro-nano scale structures by using laser beams for the precise fabrication of materials. The high-precision, high-resolution, and non-contact characteristics of laser fabrication technology make it possible to design specific topological structures.

By precisely controlling the energy and focus of the laser, laser fabrication technology can fabricate a variety of topological surfaces on demand, and it shows unique potential in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and adhesion. Intensive research in this field is expected to provide advanced technological tools as well as accelerate innovation and development in biomedical engineering.

Many advances have been made in recent years regarding the fabrication of topological structures using laser fabrication techniques and their applications in cell biology. However, there are still challenges in the fabrication of large-area, high-complexity structures and the mechanisms of topological structures on different cell types. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize the existing relevant research progress to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the problems in this field, as this will be instructive for the future direction of the field.

First, the design elements of topological structures and their regulation rules on cell behavior are discussed to provide a theoretical basis for laser fabrication technology in the fabrication of topological structures. Second, the working principle and characteristics of laser processing technology are introduced, and its advantages of high controllability and precision lay the technical foundation for its application in cell biology. Finally, through an in-depth study of the application of laser processing topologies in simulating cellular microenvironments, cellular localization and orientation, and tissue repair and regeneration, the great potential of these technologies for application in cellular, tissue, and biomedical engineering is revealed. Zandrini et al. used multifocal two-photon polymerization to produce stem cell culture substrates, that were able to stimulate cell proliferation while maintaining cell stemness without the addition of toxic and harmful additives. The use of spatial light modulators allows for the parallelization of this technique: in combination with a fast linear bench, 3D stem cell scaffolds can be prepared via two-photon polymerization, which is particularly suitable for the preparation of porous structures and offers a good structural polymerization and time savings with only minor adjustments of the parameters. Schnell et al. employed a femtosecond laser nanofabrication technique to produce microtextures on a Ti6Al4V surface and found a clear correlation between the surface properties (wettability and nano/microtexture) and cell adhesion. The growth and spreading of human MG-63 osteoblasts were inhibited on rough microstructures with deep cavities. Both nanostructured and sinusoidal microstructured surfaces showed improved cell adhesion and growth, regardless of surface hydrophilicity. Liang et al. fabricated a bionic cardiovascular scaffold for in vivo reendothelialization by using a femtosecond laser to fabricate a bionic surface pattern of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) on 316L cardiovascular scaffolds implanted into the iliac arteries of rabbits. The bionic surface pattern closely matched the morphology of VSMCs and effectively promoted the adhesion, proliferation, and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The patterned surface demonstrated a significant enhancement in reendothelialization.

In recent years, the laser fabrication of topological structures has made progress in cell biology application. For example, it is used to fabricate topological structures that simulate cellular microenvironments for cell cultures, achieve cell guidance and localization, and promote tissue repair and regeneration. Laser fabrication technology provides a novel tool and method for cell biology research and brings infinite possibilities for the future of biomedical engineering. However, the realization of large-area and high-complexity structure fabrication is still a challenge to be solved. The mechanisms of the laser fabrication of materials, such as the specific relationships between fabrication parameters and material properties, surface physical changes, and surface chemical changes, are not known. Furthermore, the mechanisms of the effects of various types of laser-processed topological structures on different types of cells are still unclear. In-depth studies on the interactions between cells and topological structures are necessary to establish comprehensive biocompatibility and effect evaluation criteria. In the future, the application of laser-processed topological structures for in vivo therapy also needs to address the biocompatibility of the materials, effect of the laser on tissue, and long-term stability of the therapeutic effect.