Aptamer-based polyvalent ligands for regulated cell attachment on the hydrogel surface

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Biotechnology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Natural biomolecules for material functionalization can denature, limiting cell-material interactions.
• Synthetic ligands with polyvalence offer a stable alternative to natural biomolecules.
• Developing controllable cell attachment and release systems is crucial for functional materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a hydrogel functionalized with a novel polyvalent aptamer for controlled cell attachment and release.
• To assess the influence of shear stress on cell attachment dynamics.
• To evaluate the viability of released cells.

Main Methods:

• Functionalization of hydrogels with a novel polyvalent aptamer.
• Dynamic flow assays to study cell attachment under varying shear stress.
• Hybridization reaction using complementary oligonucleotides for cell detachment.
• Live/dead staining to assess cell viability post-detachment.

Main Results:

• The polyvalent aptamer successfully induced cell attachment on the hydrogel in dynamic flow.
• Cell attachment density was highly sensitive to shear stress, increasing significantly at lower values (0.005 Pa).
• Detachment of approximately 95% of attached cells was achieved within 20 minutes using a complementary oligonucleotide, with ≥98% cell viability.

Conclusions:

• Polyvalent aptamers are effective synthetic ligands for hydrogel functionalization.
• This system allows for regulated cell attachment and release under physiological conditions.
• The developed method offers a promising approach for creating advanced functional materials for cell-based applications.