Biophysical characteristics of cells cultured on cholesteryl ester liquid crystals.
This study aimed at examining the biophysical characteristics of human derived keratinocytes (HaCaT) cultured on cholesteryl ester liquid crystals (CELC). CELC was previously shown to improve sensitivity in sensing cell contractions. Characteristics of the cell integrin expressions and presence of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on the liquid crystals were interrogated using various immunocytochemical techniques. The investigation was followed by characterization of the chemical properties of the liquid crystals (LC) after immersion in cell culture media using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The surface morphology of cells adhered to the LC was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Consistent with the expressions of the integrins α2, α3 and β1, extracellular matrix proteins (laminin, collagen type IV and fibronectin) were found secreted by the HaCaT onto CELC and these proteins were also secreted by cells cultured on the glass substrates. FTIR analysis of the LC revealed the existence of spectrum assigned to cholesterol and ester moieties that are essential compounds for the metabolizing activities of keratinocytes. The immunostainings indicated that cell adhesion on the LC is mediated by self-secreted ECM proteins. As revealed by the AFM imaging, the constraint in cell membrane spread on the LC leads to the increase in cell surface roughness and thickness of cell membrane. The biophysical expressions of cells on biocompatible CELC suggested that CELC could be a new class of biological relevant material.
Biosensor and Bioengineering Laboratory, MiNT-SRC Research Center, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia; School of Medical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: fionasoon@gmail.com.
Chin Fhong
CF
Soon
Wan Ibtisam Wan
WI
Omar
Rebecca F
RF
Berends
Nafarizal
N
Nayan
Hatijah
H
Basri
Kian Sek
KS
Tee
Mansour
M
Youseffi
Nick
N
Blagden
Morgan Clive Thomas
MC
Denyer
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism*; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D039421:Integrin alpha2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D039422:Integrin alpha3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007797:Laminin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D050866:Liquid Crystals; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D039421:Integrin alpha2; D039422:Integrin alpha3; D019012:Integrin beta1; D007797:Laminin
AFM; Cell adhesion; Cell surface morphology; Cell surface roughness; Cholesteryl ester; Extracellular matrix proteins; FTIR; Integrin; Keratinocyte; Liquid crystals