title: Surface Chemistry and Microtopography of Parylene C Films Control the Morphology and Microtubule Density of Cardiac Myocytes.
abstract: Cell micropatterning has certainly proved to improve the morphological and physiological properties of cardiomyocytes in vitro; however, there is little knowledge on the single cell-scaffold interactions that influence the cells' development and differentiation in culture. In this study, we employ hydrophobic/hydrophilic micropatterned Parylene C thin films (2-10 μm) as cell microscaffolds that can control the morphology and microtubule density of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM) by regulating their adhesion area on Parylene through a thickness-dependent hydrophobicity. Structured NRVM on thin films tend to bridge across the hydrophobic areas, demonstrating a more spread-out shape and sparser microtubule organization, while cells on thicker films adopt a cylindrical (in vivo-like) shape (contact angles at the level of the nucleus are 64.51° and 84.73°, respectively) and a significantly (p < 0.05) denser microtubule structure. Ion scanning microscopy on NRVM revealed that cells on thicker membranes were significantly (p < 0.05) smaller in volume, but more elongated. The cylindrical shape and a significantly denser microtubule structure indicate the ability to influence cardiomyocyte phenotype using patterning and manipulation of hydrophilicity. These combined bioengineering strategies are promising tools in the generation of more representative cardiomyocytes in culture.
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology, Imperial College London , London, United Kingdom .|2 Nano Group, ECS, University of Southampton , Southampton, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trantidou
authors.affiliation: 3 National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London , London, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Eleanor J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.affiliation: 3 National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London , London, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poulet
authors.affiliation: 3 National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London , London, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gorelik
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology, Imperial College London , London, United Kingdom .|2 Nano Group, ECS, University of Southampton , Southampton, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Themistoklis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prodromakis
authors.affiliation: 3 National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London , London, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Cesare M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Terracciano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014992:Xylenes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D014992:Xylenes; C011055:parylene