Introduction We have been interested in developing a whole cell-based assay format using three-dimensional topographical scaffolds.With neuroblastoma cells,we found cells on topographical scaffolds were less spread,had fewer and shorter neurite extensions and developed higher resting membrane potential and lower voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activity in comparison to cells on flat surfaces.We speculated that cell spreading and morphology was an important factor affecting neuronal cell differentiation.In the present study,we fabricated substrates with microstructured topography formed by packed polystyrene microbead array.H945RB.3 neural progenitor cells were cultured on flat surfaces and microbead array.