title: Biocompatible, biodegradable and porous liquid crystal elastomer scaffolds for spatial cell cultures.
abstract: Here we report on the modular synthesis and characterization of biodegradable, controlled porous, liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) and their use as three-dimensional cell culture scaffolds. The elastomers were prepared by cross-linking of star block-co-polymers with pendant cholesterol units resulting in the formation of smectic-A LCEs as determined by polarized optical microscopy, DSC, and X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the porosity of the as-prepared biocompatible LCEs, making them suitable as 3D cell culture scaffolds. Biodegradability studies in physiological buffers at varying pH show that these scaffolds are intact for about 11 weeks after which degradation sets in at an exponential rate. Initial results from cell culture studies indicate that these smectic LCEs are compatible with growth, survival, and expansion of cultured neuroblastomas and myoblasts when grown on the LCEs for extended time periods (about a month). These preliminary cell studies focused on characterizing the elastomer-based scaffolds' biocompatibility and the successful 3D incorporation as well as growth of cells in 60 to 150-μm thick elastomer sheets.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, (OH), 44242, USA; Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, (OH), 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Anshul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Abdollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neshat
authors.forename: Cory J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mahnen
authors.forename: Alek D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Tory L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Stankovich
authors.forename: Benjamin G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Daum
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: LaSpina
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beltrano
authors.forename: Yunxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Byung-Wook
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: Ernest J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malcuit
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: LaShanda T J
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Korley
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hegmann
authors.forename: Elda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hegmann
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D020724:Elastomers
keywords: liquid crystal elastomers cell scaffolds