title: Thermoresponsive Polymer Micropatterns Fabricated by Dip-Pen Nanolithography for a Highly Controllable Substrate with Potential Cellular Applications.
abstract: We report a novel approach for patterning thermoresponsive hydrogels based on N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEAAm) and bifunctional Jeffamine ED-600 by dip-pen nanolithography (DPN). The direct writing of micron-sized thermoresponsive polymer spots was achieved with efficient control over feature size. A Jeffamine-based ink prepared through the combination of organic polymers, such as DEAAm, in an inorganic silica network was used to print thermosensitive arrays on a thiol-silanized silicon oxide substrate. The use of a Jeffamine hydrogel, acting as a carrier matrix, allowed a reduction in the evaporation of ink molecules with high volatility, such as DEAAm, and facilitated the transfer of ink from tip to substrate. The thermoresponsive behavior of polymer arrays which swell/deswell in aqueous solution in response to a change in temperature was successfully characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy: a thermally induced change in height and hydration state was observed, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate that cells can adhere to and interact with these dynamic features and exhibit a change in behavior when cultured on the substrates above and below the transition temperature of the Jeffamine/DEAAm thermoresponsive hydrogels. This demonstrates the potential of these micropatterned hydrogels to act as a controllable surface for cell growth.
authors: Centre for Molecular Nanometrology, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Technology and Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde , 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, United Kingdom.
authors: Stacey
authors: S
authors: Laing
authors: Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano , Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors: Raffaella
authors: R
authors: Suriano
authors: Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde , 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom.|EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallization (CMAC), University of Strathclyde, Technology, and Innovation Centre , 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, United Kingdom.
authors: Dimitrios A
authors: DA
authors: Lamprou
authors: Centre for Cell Engineering, Institute for Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom.
authors: Carol-Anne
authors: CA
authors: Smith
authors: Centre for Cell Engineering, Institute for Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom.
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Dalby
authors: Centre for Molecular Nanometrology, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Technology and Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde , 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, United Kingdom.
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Mabbott
authors: Centre for Molecular Nanometrology, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Technology and Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde , 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, United Kingdom.
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Faulds
authors: Centre for Molecular Nanometrology, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Technology and Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde , 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, United Kingdom.
authors: Duncan
authors: D
authors: Graham
mesh_terms: D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011327:Printing; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: atomic force microscopy; dip-pen nanolithography; polymer arrays; smart hydrogel structures; thermoresponsive polymers