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Preparation of Thermoresponsive Nanostructured Surfaces for Tissue Engineering
Published on: March 1, 2016
Oxygen plasma-treated thermoresponsive polymer surfaces for cell sheet engineering
Kazunori Shimizu1, Hideaki Fujita, Eiji Nagamori
1Frontier Research Center, Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc., Aichi, Japan.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|January 22, 2010
Summary
Oxygen plasma treatment enhances poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm) surfaces for cell sheet engineering, improving cell adhesion and enabling manipulation for tissue regeneration. This method avoids extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, offering a stable and cost-effective alternative for cell sheet fabrication.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Cell sheet tissue engineering requires mechanically robust cell sheets for transplantation and 3D fabrication.
- Previous methods using cell sheet-polymer film complexes with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins had limitations in long-term storage stability and cost.
- A need exists for improved cell sheet manipulation and fabrication methods in regenerative medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for enhancing cell sheet mechanical strength and manipulability.
- To overcome the limitations of using ECM proteins in cell sheet engineering.
- To investigate the efficacy of oxygen plasma treatment on thermoresponsive polymers for cell adhesion and sheet release.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a cast and dried film of thermoresponsive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm).
- Treatment of the PNIPAAm film with high-intensity oxygen plasma.
- Characterization of the treated surface properties (roughness, wettability, composition).
- Culturing of skeletal muscle C2C12 cells on the treated surface and assessment of cell sheet release.
Main Results:
- Oxygen plasma treatment enabled cell adhesion to the PNIPAAm surface, unlike the untreated surface.
- The treated surface exhibited high stability and altered surface properties based on plasma intensity.
- The oxygen plasma-treated PNIPAAm surface lost its thermoresponsiveness, remaining insoluble below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST).
- Skeletal muscle cell sheets could be cultured and released from the treated surface, demonstrating potential for transplantation.
Conclusions:
- Oxygen plasma treatment is a viable alternative to ECM proteins for improving cell sheet engineering.
- The modified PNIPAAm surface offers enhanced cell adhesion and mechanical stability for cell sheet manipulation.
- This approach holds promise for advancing regenerative medicine applications through improved cell sheet fabrication and transplantation.
