Using electroactive substrates to pattern the attachment of two different cell populations

This report describes the development of an electroactive mask that permits the patterning of two different cell populations to a single substrate. This mask is based on a self-assembled monolayer of alkanethiolates on gold that could be switched from a state that prevents the attachment of cells to a state that promotes the integrin-mediated attachment of cells. Monolayers were patterned into regions having this electroactive monolayer and a second set of regions that were adhesive. After Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts had attached to the adhesive regions of this substrate, the second set of regions was activated electrically to permit the attachment of a second population of fibroblast cells. This method provides a general strategy for patterning the attachment of multiple cell types and will be important for studying heterotypic cell-cell interactions.