Molecularly engineered surfaces for cell biology: from static to dynamic surfaces.
Surfaces with a well-defined presentation of ligands for receptors on the cell membrane can serve as models of the extracellular matrix for studying cell adhesion or as model cell surfaces for exploring cell-cell contacts. Because such surfaces can provide exquisite control over, for example, the density of these ligands or when the ligands are presented to the cell, they provide a very precise strategy for understanding the mechanisms by which cells respond to external adhesive cues. In the present feature article, we present an overview of the basic biology of cell adhesion before discussing surfaces that have a static presentation of immobile ligands. We outline the biological information that such surfaces have given us, before progressing to recently developed switchable surfaces and surfaces that mimic the lipid bilayer, having adhesive ligands that can move around the membrane and be remodeled by the cell. Finally, the feature article closes with some of the biological information that these new types of surfaces could provide.
The Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, ‡School of Chemistry, and §Centre for Vascular Research, The University of New South Wales , Sydney 2052, Australia.
J Justin
JJ
Gooding
Stephen G
SG
Parker
Yong
Y
Lu
Katharina
K
Gaus
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003585:Cell Biology; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D008024:Ligands; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D009842:Oligopeptides; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid