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Updated: Oct 19, 2025
Preparation of Thermoresponsive Nanostructured Surfaces for Tissue Engineering
Published on: March 1, 2016
Photothermal scaffolds/surfaces for regulation of cell behaviors
Yangcui Qu1, Kunyan Lu2, Yanjun Zheng2
1College of Biomedical Engineering & the Key Laboratory for Medical Functional Nanomaterials, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, PR China.
Abstract:
Regulation of cell behaviors and even cell fates is of great significance in diverse biomedical applications such as cancer treatment, cell-based therapy, and tissue engineering. During the past decades, diverse methods have been developed to regulate cell behaviors such as applying external stimuli, delivering exogenous molecules into cell interior and changing the physicochemical properties of the substrates where cells adhere. Photothermal scaffolds/surfaces refer to a kind of materials embedded or coated with photothermal agents that can absorb light with proper wavelength (usually in near infrared region) and convert light energy to heat; the generated heat shows great potential for regulation of cell behaviors in different ways. In the current review, we summarize the recent research progress, especially over the past decade, of using photothermal scaffolds/surfaces to regulate cell behaviors, which could be further categorized into three types: (i) killing the tumor cells via hyperthermia or thermal ablation, (ii) engineering cells by intracellular delivery of exogenous molecules via photothermal poration of cell membranes, and (iii) releasing a single cell or an intact cell sheet via modulation of surface physicochemical properties in response to heat. In the end, challenges and perspectives in these areas are commented.
Insights
Photothermal scaffolds harness light to generate heat, offering novel ways to control cell behavior for biomedical applications like cancer therapy and tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cell Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Cell behavior regulation is crucial for cancer treatment, cell therapy, and tissue engineering.
- Existing methods include external stimuli, molecular delivery, and substrate modification.
- Photothermal scaffolds convert light energy into heat for precise cell control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in using photothermal scaffolds/surfaces for cell behavior regulation.
- To categorize applications of photothermal technology in cell manipulation.
- To discuss future challenges and opportunities in this field.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on photothermal scaffolds and their applications in cell regulation.
- Categorization of applications into cell killing, intracellular delivery, and cell/tissue release.
- Analysis of photothermal mechanisms for heat generation and cell interaction.
Main Results:
- Photothermal scaffolds enable precise hyperthermia for tumor cell ablation.
- Photothermal poration facilitates intracellular delivery of exogenous molecules.
- Heat-responsive surface property modulation allows controlled cell release.
Conclusions:
- Photothermal scaffolds offer versatile strategies for regulating cell behaviors.
- Key applications include cancer therapy, genetic engineering, and regenerative medicine.
- Further research is needed to address challenges and optimize photothermal systems.
