title: Inducing the migration behavior of endothelial cells by tuning the ligand density on a density-gradient poly(ethylene glycol) surface.
abstract: The migration of endothelial cells (ECs) is crucially important for many biological processes, including early embryonic vasculogenesis, wound healing and angiogenesis. To investigate the effect of the surface poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG-CHO) density on the migration of ECs, we developed a convenient and effective method to fabricate a series of silicon slides with graded PEG densities on their surfaces based on gradual treatment with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS), backfilling with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and subsequent conjugation of m-PEG. The PEG gradient was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), contact angle measurement and spectroscopic ellipsometry and determined to range from 0.56 to 0.75chains/nm(2). The impact of the PEG gradient on the EC migration was evaluated by real-time observation via a time-lapse phase-contrast microscope. ECs adhered to the silicon surfaces with high and modest PEG densities displayed a higher tendency of migration than those on corresponding non-graded samples. The results suggest that the motility of ECs could be modulated by the PEG gradient. This study would be helpful for understanding cell-substrate interactions.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China.
authors.forename: Tiantian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China.
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China; College of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Chongqing University of Science & Technology, Chongqing 401331, PR China. Electronic address: cqfuya@163.com.
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China. Electronic address: kaiyong_cai@cqu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Kaiyong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D011437:Propylamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging
chemical_list: C403136:3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane; D000447:Aldehydes; D011437:Propylamines; D012821:Silanes; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C477625:amino-propyl-triethoxysilane
keywords: Cell migration; Endothelial cells; Gradient biomaterials; PEG gradient; Surface grafting