Improved epithelial cell-cell adhesion using molecular mobility of supramolecular surfaces

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Cell fate is influenced by biomaterial physical properties.
• The effect of material properties on cell-cell adhesion is not well understood.
• Molecular mobility of biomaterials may play a role in cellular responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of molecular mobility on polyrotaxane surfaces on epithelial cell-cell adhesion.
• To determine the relationship between polyrotaxane surface mobility and yes-associated protein (YAP) localization.
• To assess the effect of YAP localization on gene expression and cell migration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polyrotaxane surfaces with varying molecular mobility.
• Microscopy to observe yes-associated protein (YAP) localization in epithelial cells.
• Quantitative real-time PCR to analyze tight junction-associated gene expression.
• Scratch assays to evaluate epithelial cell migration.

Main Results:

• High mobility polyrotaxane surfaces induced cytoplasmic YAP localization, while low mobility surfaces induced nuclear YAP localization.
• Cytoplasmic YAP localization correlated with increased expression of tight junction-associated genes.
• Epithelial cells on low mobility surfaces migrated faster than those on high mobility surfaces.
• Higher polyrotaxane surface mobility enhanced cell-cell adhesion.

Conclusions:

• Polyrotaxane surface molecular mobility is a critical factor regulating epithelial cell-cell adhesion through YAP localization.
• Enhanced cell-cell adhesion via cytoplasmic YAP localization may be beneficial for tissue repair.
• Polyrotaxane biointerfaces show potential for improving tissue regeneration and the physical immune system.