Fabrication of patterned cell co-cultures on albumin-based substrate: applications for microfluidic devices.
A surface coated with cross-linked albumin film resists the adhesion of cells, and subsequent exposure to UV irradiation or electrostatic adsorption of a cationic polymer switches the surface from non-adherent to adherent. Taking advantage of this unique property of cross-linked albumin, the authors fabricated patterned cell co-cultures with desired patterns and cell types. In this scheme, the cell-adherent region was initially created in the cell-non-adhesive albumin substrate, on which a first cell type was attached. Subsequently, the remaining region was also changed to adherent for the attachment of secondary cells in the same manner, thereby allowing distinctly localized co-cultures. As a proof of concept demonstration of the feasibility of this approach, a patterned co-culture of Neuro-2a cells with L929 cells was successfully prepared on the substrate. Furthermore, combining this technique with a microfluidic technique, a micropatterned co-culture of PA6 cells with 3T3 fibroblasts was created inside microfluidic devices. This approach could potentially be a useful tool for fundamental investigations of cell-cell interactions and for tissue engineering applications.
Yamazoe
H
H
NanoBio Medical Technology Group, Nanotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 4-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. hironori-yamazoe@aist.go.jp
Okuyama
T
T
Suzuki
H
H
Fukuda
J
J
D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
D000418:Albumins