title: Functionalized surface arrays for spatial targeting of immune cell signaling.
abstract: The effect of surface topography and chemistry on cellular response is of fundamental importance, especially where living systems encounter device surfaces as in medical implants, tissue engineering, and cell-based sensors. To understand these biological processes on surfaces, there is a widespread interest in tailored surface-active materials produced by a combination of surface chemistry coupled to advanced patterning processes. We utilize self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as molecular templates with submicrometer-scale spatial resolution to engage and cluster IgE receptors on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) mast cells. Bioactive templates consisted of gold arrays on silicon with patterns from 1 mum down to 45 nm. These gold arrays served as molecular tethering sites, enabling covalent binding of functionalized self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols. The free ends of the monolayers were functionalized with 2,4-dinitrophenyl(DNP)-caproate-based ligands which interact specifically with anti-DNP IgE bound to its high affinity cell surface receptor, FcepsilonRI on RBL mast cells. Present results on structures 1 mum down to 600 nm in size indicate that these ligand-immobilized patterned arrays can function as a powerful tool for visualization and systematic characterization of cell membrane involvement in IgE receptor-mediated immune cell signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Wageesha
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Senaratne
authors.forename: Prabuddha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jakubek
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holowka
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ober
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baird
mesh_terms: D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013499:Surface Properties; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*