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A Versatile Method of Patterning Proteins and Cells
Published on: February 26, 2017
Patterning methods for polymers in cell and tissue engineering.
Hong Nam Kim1, Do-Hyun Kang, Min Sung Kim
1School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea.
Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|January 20, 2012
Summary
This review explores polymer patterning for cell and tissue engineering. Tailored polymer properties like topography and rigidity create more physiologically relevant microenvironments for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Polymers are versatile materials for mimicking the extracellular matrix.
- Key properties include chemical composition, rigidity, and topography.
- Applications are found in cell and tissue engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review polymer patterning methods for cell and tissue engineering.
- Focus on biocompatibility and processability of various polymers.
- Discuss the role of tunable polymer substrates in engineering cell and tissue structure and function.
Main Methods:
- Overview of polymer patterning techniques.
- Highlighting common polymers: polydimethyl siloxane, polyurethane acrylate, polyethylene glycol, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), thermoplastic, and conductive polymers.
- Discussion of micro- and nanofabrication of polymeric substrates with tunable elastic modulus.
Main Results:
- Various polymers can be patterned to control cell and tissue environments.
- Micro- and nanofabricated substrates with tunable rigidity influence cell structure and function.
- Synergistic effects of polymer topography and rigidity are crucial.
Conclusions:
- Polymer patterning offers a powerful approach for creating biomimetic microenvironments.
- Tunable polymer properties are essential for engineering physiologically relevant scaffolds.
- This strategy advances cell and tissue engineering applications.
