Exploiting the superior protein resistance of polymer brushes to control single cell adhesion and polarisation at the micron scale.

ABSTRACT: The control of the cell microenvironment on model patterned substrates allows the systematic study of cell biology in well defined conditions, potentially using automated systems. The extreme protein resistance of poly(oligo(ethylene glycol methacrylate)) (POEGMA) brushes is exploited to achieve high fidelity patterning of single cells. These coatings can be patterned by soft lithography on large areas (a microscope slide) and scale (substrates were typically prepared in batches of 200). The present protocol relies on the adsorption of extra-cellular matrix (ECM) proteins on unprotected areas using simple incubation and washing steps. The stability of POEGMA brushes, as examined via ellipsometry and SPR, is found to be excellent, both during storage and cell culture. The impact of substrat

SUBMITTER: Gautrot JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3712172 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature