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Pure Appl. Chem., 2008, Vol. 80, No. 11, pp. 2479-2487

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200880112479

Cellular responses to novel, micropatterned biomaterials

Marga C. Lensen, Vera A. Schulte, Jochen Salber, Mar Diez, Fabian Menges and Martin Möller

DWI e.V. and Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 8, D-52056 Aachen, Germany

Abstract: Two UV-curable polymers, i.e., a star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and a linear perfluorinated polyether (PFPE), are investigated as novel biomaterials in a systematic study of the cellular responses to surface chemistry, topography, and elasticity. Based on the wettability it was expected that the two novel biomaterials were too hydrophilic or -phobic, respectively, to support cell adhesion. Indeed, no cell adhesion was observed on the smooth, unstructured elastomers, whereas the materials showed no cytotoxicity. However, when the materials bear defined, topographic patterns (prepared by UV-based imprinting), cells do react strongly to the surfaces; they adhere, spread, and change their shape depending on the geometry of the features. Typically, cells were found to align along line patterns and "float" on pillar structures. It should be noted that the chemistry of the surface is not altered by the imprinting process, hence, there are no biofunctional molecules present at the surface to aid the cell adhesion. Finally, a remarkable effect of elasticity on the cellular behavior was discovered. Thus, the three parameters of chemistry, topography, and elasticity were investigated in- and interdependently, and it was found that the biomaterials may lose their resistance to protein adsorption and cell adhesion depending on the surface topography.