title: Patterned Thermoresponsive Microgel Surfaces to Control Cell Detachment.
abstract: The aim of this work is to examine how adhered individual cells could detach from the patterned, discontinuous thermoresponsive coating substrate and how different patterns in the form of thermoresponsive squares and gaps would affect cell detachment. Microgels prepared from copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and styrene (pNIPAAmSt) were spin-coated on polyethylenimine (PEI) precoated glass coverslips to form a uniform microgel monolayer; then a surface-moisturized PMDS stamp was used to contact the microgel monolayer at room temperature. The thin layer of water on the PDMS stamp surface worked as an ink to penetrate the microgels so that any microgels in direct contact with the wet stamp surface became swollen and could be peeled away, while uncontacted microgels formed patterns. Using this method, various patterns with different thermo-island diameters and gaps could be fabricated. NIH3T3 fibroblast cells were then cultured on these patterns to study their detachment behavior. It was found that cells could detach not only from these discontinuous thermoresponsive coatings, but also from the patterned surfaces with the thermoresponsive area being as low as 20% of the cell spread area.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology and the State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum (East China) , Qingdao 266580, China.
authors.forename: Yongqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology and the State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum (East China) , Qingdao 266580, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology and the State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum (East China) , Qingdao 266580, China.
authors.forename: Xinlong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Biological Physics Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester , Schuster Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Biological Physics Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester , Schuster Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Zonyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology and the State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum (East China) , Qingdao 266580, China.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Biological Physics Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester , Schuster Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jian Ren
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D005782:Gels; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010316:Particle Size; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000178:Acrylamides; D005782:Gels; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; C067295:N-isopropylacrylamide