Nitrogen-rich plasma-polymerized coatings on PET and PTFE surfaces improve endothelial cell attachment and resistance to shear flow

Low seeding efficiency and poor cell retention under flow-induced shear stress limit the effectiveness of in vitro endothelialization strategies for small-diameter vascular grafts. Primary-amine-rich plasma-polymerized coatings (PPE:N) deposited using low- and atmospheric-pressure plasma discharges on PET and PTFE are evaluated for their ability to improve endothelial cells' kinetics and strength of attachment. PPE:N coatings increase cell adhesion and adhesion rate, spreading, focal adhesion, and resistance to flow-induced shear compared with bare and gelatin-coated PET and PTFE. In particular, about 90% of the cells remain on coated surfaces after 1 h exposure to shear. These coatings, therefore, appear as a promising versatile approach to improve cell seeding strategies for vascular grafts.     

Short peptides enhance single cell adhesion and viability on microarrays

Single cell patterning holds important implications for biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, medicine, and bioinformatics. The challenge for single cell patterning is to produce small islands hosting only single cells and retaining their viability for a prolonged period of time. This study demonstrated a surface engineering approach that uses a covalently bound short peptide as a mediator to pattern cells with improved single cell adhesion and prolonged cellular viability on gold patterned SiO2 substrates. The underlying hypothesis is that cell adhesion is regulated by the type, availability, and stability of effective cell adhesion peptides, and thus covalently bound short peptides would promote cell spreading and, thus, single cell adhesion and viability. The effectiveness of this approach and the underlying mechanism for the increased probability of single cell adhesion and prolonged cell viability by short peptides were studied by comparing cellular behavior of human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells on three model surfaces whose gold electrodes were immobilized with fibronectin, physically adsorbed Arg-Glu-Asp-Val-Tyr, and covalently bound Lys-Arg-Glu-Asp-Val-Tyr, respectively. The surface chemistry and binding properties were characterized by reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Both short peptides were superior to fibronectin in producing adhesion of only single cells, whereas the covalently bound peptide also reduced apoptosis and necrosis of adhered cells. Controlling cell spreading by peptide binding domains to regulate apoptosis and viability represents a fundamental mechanism in cell-materials interaction and provides an effective strategy in engineering arrays of single cells.     

Nanoscale topography reduces fibroblast growth, focal adhesion size and migration-related gene expression on platinum surfaces

Controlling cellular responses on biomaterial surfaces is crucial in biomedical applications such as tissue engineering and implantable prosthetics. Since cells encounter various nanoscale topographic features in their natural environment, it has been postulated that surface nanotopography may be an alternative route to fabricate biomaterials with a desirable cellular response. In this framework, we investigated the responses of primary human fibroblasts to platinum substrates with different levels of surface roughness at the nanoscale. The nanorough surfaces were fabricated by using the glancing angle deposition technique (GLAD). We found that levels of cellular responses depended on the surface roughness and the size of the nanoscale features. We showed that in response to nanotopography cells spread less and have an elongated morphology, displaying signs of actin cytoskeleton impairment and reduced formation of focal adhesion complexes. Although cell growth and adhesion were impaired on the nanorough substrates, cell viability was not affected by topography. To a minor extent our results also indicate that cell migration might be reduced on the nanorough surfaces, since a significantly lower gene expression of migration related genes were found on the roughest surfaces as compared to the flat reference. The results presented here demonstrate that surface nanotopography influences fibroblasts responses on platinum, which may be used to reduce cellular adhesion on platinum implant surfaces such as implantable neural electrodes.     

Impact of Peptide Micropatterning on Endothelial Cell Actin Remodeling for Cell Alignment under Shear Stress

HSVEC behavior under physiological shear stress in vitro is investigated on PET surfaces micropatterned with both RGDS and WQPPRARI peptides. This technique allows (i) creating geometries on surface to guide cell orientation under shear stress and (ii) controlling surface chemical composition in order to modulate cell behavior. Under shear stress, endothelial cells adhere on patterned PET surfaces and present a more rapid orientation in flow direction in comparison to cells cultured on homogeneous surfaces. Micropatterned surfaces presenting a large surface area ratio of RGDS/WQPPRARI peptides induce fibrillar adhesion, while surfaces presenting an equal RGDS/WQPPRARI peptides surface area ratio preferentially induce focal adhesion.

     

On the Applicability of Plasma Assisted Chemical Micropatterning to Different Polymeric Biomaterials

A plasma process sequence has been developed to prepare chemical micropatterns on polymeric biomaterial surfaces. These patterns induce a guided localized cell layover at microscopic dimension. Two subsequent plasma steps are applied. In the first functionalization step a microwave ammonia plasma introduces amino groups to obtain areas for very good cell adhesion; the second passivation step combines pattern generation and creation of cell repelling areas. This downstream microwave hydrogen plasma process removes functional groups and changes the linkages of polymer chains at the outermost surfaces. Similar results have been obtained on different polymers including polystyrene (PS), polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (PHEMA), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and polyethylenenaphthalate (PEN). Such a rather universal chemical structuring process could widen the availability of biomaterials with specific surface preparations.     

Cell adhesion and surface properties of polystyrene surfaces grafted with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Cell adhesion plays a key role in various aspects of biological and medical sciences. In this study, poly(Nisopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) was grafted on polystyrene surfaces using different solvents under UV radiation. Moreover, the relation between surface roughness and cell adhesion were evaluated by gravimetric, SEM, AFM, contact angle measurement and cellular analyses. The gravimetric analysis clearly indicated an increase in the grafting by adding 10% methanol to water. The study of surface topography by AFM images showed an increase in the surface roughness and as a result of which, a decrease in wettablity was observed. At 37 °C, epithelial cells were well attached and proliferated on the grafted surfaces, while these cells were spontaneously detached below 32 °C in the absence of any enzymes. Moreover, MTT assay and SEM images indicated good cell viability and an increase in cell adhesion caused by the roughness increase. The results of this study reveal the great potential of PNIPAM-grafted polystyrene for being used in the biomedical fields such as drug delivery systems, tissue engineering and cell separation.     

Effect of the corona treatment and of the 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol on the surface characteristics of the poly(ethylene terephthalate) film

Several techniques have been applied for the characterization of three PET films surfaces: homopolymer PET film, corona treated PET film and a poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol) film. The objective of this work is to investigate and to apply precise and mutually complementary techniques which give detailled information about theses surfaces, as there are few papers with global and conclusive results. The film surfaces were investigated to support the development of new products and envisage new apllications to the existent films. Scanning electron micrographs, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and multiple internal reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-MIR) spectra show that the chemical composition, topography and surface roughness of the films are different. The corona-treated PET film shows high surface tension value due to the major contribution on the polar groups and oxidation level acquired. The copolyester film is much less crystalline than the other films analyzed, as demonstrated by refractive index measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The amorphous structures obtained and the high tension level of the corona-treated films provide a better understanding of the adhesion phenomena. In view of results obtained, one can assume that corona treated films owing to its higher surface tension and films with CHDM owing to its surface amorphization should provide manufacturing industries better processing conditions than films without surface treatment and also higher levels of adhesion to paints and coatings.     

Remote atmospheric-pressure plasma activation of the surfaces of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate

The surfaces of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) were treated with an atmospheric-pressure oxygen and helium plasma. Changes in the energy, adhesion, and chemical composition of the surfaces were determined by contact angle measurements, mechanical pull tests, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Surface-energy calculations revealed that after plasma treatment the polarity of PET and PEN increased 6 and 10 times, respectively. In addition, adhesive bond strengths were enhanced by up to 7 times. For PET and PEN, XPS revealed an 18-29% decrease in the area of the C 1s peak at 285 eV, which is attributable to the aromatic carbon atoms. The C 1s peak area due to ester carbon atoms increased by 11 and 24% for PET and PEN, respectively, while the C 1s peak area resulting from C-O species increased by about 5% for both polymers. These results indicate that oxygen atoms generated in the plasma rapidly oxidize the aromatic rings on the polymer chains. The Langmuir adsorption rate constants for oxidizing the polymer surfaces were 15.6 and 4.6 s(-1) for PET and PEN, respectively.     

利用表面上的小分子控制细胞黏附

细胞黏附是重要的生理过程,多细胞生物体中大部分种类的细胞都依赖于在表面的黏附而进行其正常生理活动。细胞的黏附需要固定在表面的有机分子（例如蛋白质或多肽）作配体。我们利用表面小分子模拟蛋白质或多肽作为配体,通过与细胞膜上受体结合,促进细胞黏附到表面。聚乙二醇（PEG）可以抵抗细胞在表面的黏附,我们利用含有PEG的表面小分子来调节细胞黏附。细胞表面的受体与胞外基质表面的配体结合是一个动态过程,在适宜时间和空间发生的时候,细胞就会产生运动和迁移,细胞的迁移也是重要的生理过程。本文主要介绍近年来利用小分子的表面化学和微纳米结构控制细胞在表面的黏附和迁移。     

Cell adhesion properties on photochemically functionalized diamond

The biocompatibility of diamond was investigated with a view toward correlating surface chemistry and topography with cellular adhesion and growth. The adhesion properties of normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells on microcrystalline and ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) surfaces were measured using atomic force microscopy. Cell adhesion forces increased by several times on the hydrogenated diamond surfaces after UV irradiation of the surfaces in air or after functionalization with undecylenic acid. A direct correlation between initial cell adhesion forces and the subsequent cell growth was observed. Cell adhesion forces were observed to be strongest on UV-treated UNCD, and cell growth experiments showed that UNCD was intrinsically more biocompatible than microcrystalline diamond surfaces. The surface carboxylic acid groups on the functionalized diamond surface provide tethering sites for laminin to support the growth of neuron cells. Finally, using capillary injection, a surface gradient of polyethylene glycol could be assembled on top of the diamond surface for the construction of a cell gradient.     

Chemical Surface Modifications of Titanium Implants

Summary: In the present work, various surface modifications have been applied to titanium surface. The aim of the modifications was to improve cell adhesion and to determine their influence on the properties of titanium surface. The unmodified and modified surfaces were observed using SEM. Subtle changes in modified surface layer of titanium samples were examined using the Auger Electron Microanalysis and Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The properties of surfaces were evaluated by contact angle and roughness measurements. The results revealed large differences in morphology of Ti modified with different procedures whereas only minor differences in the chemistry of the surfaces were detected. Preliminary quantitative measurements (cell number, viability and differentiation) of the MG 63 osteoblast-like cells in the direct contact with the surface of the investigated materials show that both the not pre-treated titanium surface and the surfaces modified by the methods used in the this work are all well tolerated by the living cells. Within the experimental scatter all the surfaces provided good substrate for proliferation and growth of the cells.     

具有内皮细胞选择性的细胞膜仿生支架材料的研究

利用AIBN引发自由基反应,由单体2-(甲基丙烯酰氧基)乙基-2-(三甲基氨基)乙基磷酸酯(MPC)、甲基丙烯酸十八酯(SMA)、对硝基苯氧羰基聚乙二醇甲基丙烯酸酯(MEONP)合成了一种新型类细胞膜仿生涂层材料.MPC可以阻抗非特异性吸附;MEONP可以结合抗体或多肽促进特异性识别.通过表面固定的方法引入多肽序列Arg-Glu-Asp-Val(REDV),使涂层具有内皮细胞选择性.核磁、紫外吸收、红外光谱表征证实聚合物的组成以及REDV多肽在表面的固定;并通过血浆复钙化实验表征涂层的血液相容性.细胞黏附与增殖实验反映REDV多肽构建的涂层表面具备良好的特异性识别并结合内皮细胞的能力.     

Polyelectrolyte complex membranes for specific cell adhesion

The presentation of bioactive ligands on biomaterial surfaces is often confounded by the adsorption of proteins present in the biological milieu, rendering any type of cellular response nonspecific. We have engineered a polyelectrolyte complex membrane that demonstrates specific adhesion of various cell types for both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems. Specific cell adhesion is achieved by a three-tiered structure: a silica cross-linked polycation as the bottom (first) tier, a nonfouling polyanion-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) conjugate as the intermediate (second) tier, and the cell-adhesion ligand as the top (third) tier. Each tier of the membrane was characterized in terms of chemical composition and dimensions. Epithelial cells (primary human cortical renal cells and a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line) cultured on the membranes exhibited little cell attachment on the polyanion-PEG second tier and good cell adhesion on the RGD-modified third tier. Thus, the second tier allowed the effect of cell adhesion due to the ligand (third tier) to be isolated and distinguished from nonspecific cell attachment to the first tier. For the culturing of cells in three dimensions, the three-tiered membrane system was applied using a highly swellable chitosan membrane as the first tier. The resulting cell-membrane construct was uniformly dispersed and centrifuged to form a matrix that interacted intimately with cells in the form of a pellet. Presentation of RGD in the latter format enhanced the viability of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) over controls without RGD.     

Multifunctional surfaces with discrete functionalized regions for biological applications

In this paper we describe a method for creating multifunctional glass surfaces presenting discrete patches of different proteins on an inert PEG-functionalized background. Microcontact printing is used to stamp the substrate with octadecyltrichlorosilane to define the active regions. The substrate is then back-filled with PEG-silane {[[2-methoxypoly(ethyleneoxy)]propyl]trimethoxysilane} to define passive regions. A microfluidics device is subsequently affixed to the substrate to deliver proteins to the active regions, with as many channels as there are proteins to be patterned. Examples of trifunctional surfaces are given which present three terminating functional groups, i.e., protein 1, protein 2, and PEG. These surfaces should be broadly useful in biological studies, as patch size is well established to influence cell viability, growth, and differentiation. Three examples of cellular interactions with the surfaces are demonstrated, including the capture of cells from a single cell suspension, the selective sorting of cells from a mixed suspension, and the adhesion of cells to ligand micropatches at critical shear stresses. Within these examples, we demonstrate that the patterned immobilized proteins are active, as they retain their ability to interact with either antibodies in solution or receptors presented by cells. When appropriate (e.g., for E-selectin), proteins are patterned in their physiological orientations using a sandwich immobilization technique, which is readily accommodated within our method. The protein surface densities are highly reproducible in the patches, as supported by fluorescence intensity measurements. Potential applications include biosensors based on the interaction of cells or of marker proteins with protein patches, fundamental studies of cell adhesion as a function of patch size and shear stress, and studies of cell differentiation as a function of surface cues.     

Endothelial cell adhesion on polyelectrolyte multilayer films functionalised with fibronectin and collagen

The seeding of endothelial cells on biomaterial surfaces has become a major challenge to achieve better haemocompatibility of these surfaces. Multilayers of polyelectrolytes formed by the layerby-layer method are promising in this respect. In this study, the interactions of endothelial cells with multilayered polyelectrolytes films were investigated. The build-ups were prepared by selfassembled alternatively adsorbed polyanions and polycations functionalised with fibronectin and collagen. Anionic poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) and cationic poly(allylamine hydrochloride) polyelectrolytes were chosen as a model system. Elaborated surfaces were characterised by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The modified electrode showed good reversible electrochemical properties and high stability in an electrolyte solution. The film ohmic resistance was highest when the film was coated with fibronectin; the parameters so determined were correlated with atomic force microscopy images. Cell colorimetric assay (WST-1) and immunofluorescence were used to quantify the cell viability and evaluate the adhesion properties. When cultured on a surface where proteins were deposited, cells adhered and proliferated better with fibronectin than with collagen. In addition, a high surface free energy was favourable to adhesion and proliferation (48.8 mJ m⁻² for fibronectin and 39.7 mJ m⁻² for collagen, respectively). Endothelial cells seeded on functionalised-polyelectrolyte multilayer films showed a good morphology and adhesion necessary for the development of a new endothelium.     

Wetting characteristics of aqueous rhamnolipids solutions

The wetting properties of surfactants on solid surfaces form the basis of many industrial and biological processes. The preferential adsorption of the surfactants from aqueous solutions onto solid surfaces alter the adhesion tension of the surface and this behavior may cause partial to complete wetting of the surfaces by the aqueous surfactant solutions. However, different types of surfactants show different wetting characteristics. To study the wetting properties of biologically produced rhamnolipids (RL), advancing contact angles of the aqueous solutions of the RL mixture of R1 and R2 in a ratio of R2/R1=1.1 were measured as a function of surfactant concentration. For a comparison of the wetting performance, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was chosen as the reference surfactant. A hydrophilic glass surface, a hydrophobic polymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and gold surface were used as the solid surfaces to determine the wetting characteristics of rhamnolipids. At low surfactant concentrations (RL concentration <3x10(-5)M, SDS concentration<3x10(-4)M) contact angle (Theta) varied in a certain range depending on the character of the surfactant interactions with the surface. This was followed by a decrease in contact angle. Parallel to this behavior, at low surfactant concentrations the adhesion tension decreased, then remained constant and an increase at higher surfactant concentrations was obtained on hydrophobic surfaces. On hydrophilic surfaces a steady decrease in adhesion tension was observed with both surfactant solutions.     

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based thermo-responsive surfaces with controllable cell adhesion

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-based thermo-responsive surfaces can switch their wettability (from wettable to non-wettable) and adhesion (from sticky to non-sticky) according to external temperature changes. These smart surfaces with switchable interfacial properties are playing increasingly important roles in a diverse range of biomedical applications; these controlling cell-adhesion behavior has shown great potential for tissue engineering and disease diagnostics. Herein we reviewed the recent progress of research on PNIPAAm-based thermo-responsive surfaces that can dynamically control cell adhesion behavior. The underlying response mechanisms and influencing factors for PNIPAAm-based surfaces to control cell adhesion are described first. Then, PNIPAAm-modified two-dimensional flat surfaces for cell-sheet engineering and PNIPAAm-modified three-dimensional nanostructured surfaces for diagnostics are summarized. We also provide a future perspective for the development of stimuli-responsive surfaces.     

Thermodynamic Investigation of Staphylococcus epidermidis interactions with protein-coated substrata

We evaluated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as potential coatings to prevent bacterial adhesion to biomaterials. Bacterial retention experiments were conducted on SAMs, some of which were coated with the model proteins fetal bovine serum (FBS) and fibronectin (FN). A thermodynamic approach was applied to calculate the Gibbs free energy changes of adhesion (DeltaG(adh)) of Staphylococcus epidermidis interacting with the substrates. When only nonspecific interactions controlled bacterial attachment, such as for the non-protein-coated substrates or the FBS substrates, the correlation between the thermodynamic predictions and measured values of bacterial retention was strong. However, when FN was adsorbed to the surfaces, the thermodynamic modeling underestimated bacterial adhesion, presumably since specific interactions between proteins of S. epidermidis and FN led to stronger attachment. Bacterial viability on the substrates was correlated with thermodynamic properties. For example, although bacteria attached more to surfaces having negative DeltaG(adh) values, these cells experienced the greatest loss of viability, presumably since strongly attached bacteria were unable to divide and grow. When the DeltaG(adh) values were decoupled into their components, we saw that acid-base interactions due to hydrogen bonding dominated the interactions of bacteria and proteins with each other and with the substrates in aqueous media. Finally, we discuss concerns regarding the use of the thermodynamic model to predict bacterial adhesion behavior in biomaterials systems.     

Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) via hydrolysis and layer-by-layer assembly of chitosan and chondroitin sulfate to construct cytocompatible layer for human endothelial cells

Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film was performed by surface hydrolysis and layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly followed a mechanism of electrostatic adsorption of oppositely charged polymers, exemplified with chitosan and chondroitin sulfate (CS). Hydrolysis of PET in concentrated alkaline solution produced a carboxyl-enriched surface. The changes of weight loss and surface chemistry, morphology and wettability were monitored and verified by UV-vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and water contact angle. Assembly of positively charged chitosan and negatively charged CS was then conducted in a LBL manner to create multilayers on the hydrolyzed PET film. The process of layer growth and oscillation of surface wettability were monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy and water contact angle measurement, respectively. In vitro cell culture revealed that the adherence of endothelial cells was significantly enhanced on the biomacromolecules-modified PET film with preserved endothelial cell function, in particular on those assembled with larger number of chitosan/CS layers. However, with regard to cell proliferation and viability properties after cultured for 4 days, minor difference was determined between the modified and the unmodified PET films.     

Electrochemical "switching" of Si(100) modular assemblies

We report on a modular approach for producing well-defined and electrochemically switchable surfaces on Si(100). The switching of these surfaces is shown to change a Si(100) surface from resistant to cell adsorption to promoting cell adhesion. The electrochemical conversion of the modified electrode surface is demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray reflectometry, contact angle and cell adhesion studies.