Light-Triggered Specific Cancer Cell Release from Cyclodextrin/Azobenzene and Aptamer-Modified Substrate

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Stimuli-responsive surfaces are crucial for biomedical applications.
• Photoswitching offers an alternative to temperature or pH stimuli for surface control.
• Developing light-controlled cell adhesion and release systems is an active research area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a reusable, photoswitchable surface for specific cell release.
• To utilize host-guest interactions between cyclodextrin (CD) and azobenzene for light-induced cell detachment.
• To demonstrate the potential of this smart surface for cancer cell isolation and analysis.

Main Methods:

• Modification of a surface with cyclodextrin (CD).
• Grafting of azobenzene onto a cell capture agent.
• Assembly of the azobenzene-grafted agent onto the CD-modified surface.
• Irradiation with UV light to induce azobenzene isomerization and cell release.

Main Results:

• Successful design of a reusable, photoswitchable smart surface.
• Demonstration of light-triggered release of captured MCF-7 cells.
• Azobenzene switching from trans- to cis-isomers upon UV exposure disrupted host-guest interactions with CD.
• High efficiency in light-triggered specific cancer cell release.

Conclusions:

• The developed CD-modified surface enables light-controlled specific cell adhesion and release.
• This technology shows promise for applications in circulating tumor cell isolation and analysis.
• Photoswitching provides a non-invasive method for controlling cell behavior on smart surfaces.