Topography-induced cell adhesion to Acr-sP(EO-stat-PO) hydrogels: the role of protein adsorption.

Topographic surface patterning of intrinsically non-adhesive P(EO-stat-PO)-based hydrogels can lead to the adhesion and spreading of fibroblasts. Explanations for this unexpected behavior are discussed, particularly with regard to non-specific protein adsorption from the serum-supplemented culture medium. The presence of serum proteins is shown to be essential for adhesion.

Combined influence of substrate stiffness and surface topography on the antiadhesive properties of Acr-sP(EO-stat-PO) hydrogels.

Biomaterials that prevent nonspecific protein adsorption and cell adhesion are of high relevance for diverse applications in tissue engineering and diagnostics. One of the most widely applied materials for this purpose is Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). We have investigated how micrometer line topography and substrate elasticity act upon the antiadhesive properties of PEG-based hydrogels.

A hydrophobic perfluoropolyether elastomer as a patternable biomaterial for cell culture and tissue engineering.

We present a systematic study of a perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-based elastomer as a new biomaterial. Besides its excellent long-term stability and inertness, PFPE can be decorated with topographical surface structures by replica molding. Micrometer-sized pillar structures led to considerably different cell morphology of fibroblasts.

Deformation of nanostructures on polymer molds during soft UV nanoimprint lithography.

Soft nanoimprint lithography (soft NIL) relies on a mechanical deformation of a resist by a patterned polymer used as a mold. Here, we report on the investigation of the nanopattern fidelity of the high pressure imprint process based on a perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) soft mold material. The perfluorinated polyether material was found to be well suited to transfer the mold pattern into the resist by a direct imprinting process at low cost.

Induction of specific macrophage subtypes by defined micro-patterned structures.

In this study, we investigated the influence of different perfluoropolyether (PFPE) microstructures on the inflammatory response of human macrophages. We generated four different microstructured PFPE surfaces by replica molding from silicon masters. The function-associated surface markers 27E10 and CD163 were monitored using flow cytometry to measure the pro- and anti-inflammatory reactions.

Nanomolding of PEG-based hydrogels with sub-10-nm resolution.

A simple, soft nanolithographic method is used to fabricate sub-10-nm structures on star polyethylene glycol-based hydrogels and perfluoropolyether-based materials. Very small features, for example, gold nanoparticles of size approximately 8 nm with an interparticle distance of approximately 100 nm, are successfully reproduced from a hard silicon master into both elastomers. Scanning force microscopy is used to investigate the replicas, and the original hexagonal pattern of the nanoparticles is clearly recognized.

Surface topography induces fibroblast adhesion on intrinsically nonadhesive poly(ethylene glycol) substrates.

Important in developing new biomaterials is the prevention of unspecific protein adsorption and cell interactions that in vivo can lead to a foreign body reaction. On the other hand, the material should support the growth of a specific cell type in a defined way. We investigate the possibility of manipulating cellular behavior on an intrinsically nonadhesive material by topographic patterning without additional surface chemistry modifications.