Nanofabricated collagen-inspired synthetic elastomers for primary rat hepatocyte culture.
Synthetic substrates that mimic the properties of extracellular matrix proteins hold significant promise for use in systems designed for tissue engineering applications. In this report, we designed a synthetic polymeric substrate that is intended to mimic chemical, mechanical, and topological characteristics of collagen. We found that elastomeric poly(ester amide) substrates modified with replica-molded nanotopographic features enhanced initial attachment, spreading, and adhesion of primary rat hepatocytes. Further, hepatocytes cultured on nanotopographic substrates also demonstrated reduced albumin secretion and urea synthesis, which is indicative of strongly adherent hepatocytes. These results suggest that these engineered substrates can function as synthetic collagen analogs for in vitro cell culture.
Bettinger
Christopher J
CJ
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Kulig
Katherine M
KM
Vacanti
Joseph P
JP
Langer
Robert
R
Borenstein
Jeffrey T
JT
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002465:Cell Movement; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020724:Elastomers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D036103:Nanotechnology; D051381:Rats
D020724:Elastomers; D003094:Collagen