The effects of micropatterned surfaces coated with type I collagen (CNI) on the proliferation and morphology of rat tail tenocytes were investigated in this study. The micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane substrates were prepared by using the technique of microcontact printing and then coated with different concentrations of CNI by the microfluidic channels technology. After being seeded on the CNI-coated micropatterned substrates, the tenocytes were tested by MTT colorimetric assay at 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-day time intervals to evaluate the proliferation of tenocytes on the substrates. The alignment and morphology of tenocytes on the CNI-coated substrates after incubation for 1 or 24 h were observed with SEM. The results showed tenocytes proliferated well with increase of CNI concentrations and identically aligned along the grooves of the CNI-coated micropatterned substrates. This could have a potential advantage in construction of engineered tendons in vitro. (c) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.