Open AccessA Polymer Blend Substrate for Skeletal Muscle Cells Alignment and Photostimulation
Author(s) -
Vurro Vito,
Scaccabarozzi Alberto Davide,
Lodola Francesco,
Storti Filippo,
Marangi Fabio,
Ross Aaron Michael,
Paternò Giuseppe Maria,
Scotognella Francesco,
Criante Luigino,
Caironi Mario,
Lanzani Guglielmo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced photonics research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2699-9293
DOI - 10.1002/adpr.202000103
Subject(s) - photostimulation , materials science , scaffold , nanotechnology , polymer , substrate (aquarium) , biomedical engineering , computer science , engineering , biology , neuroscience , composite material , ecology
Substrate engineering for steering cell growth is a wide and well‐established area of research in the field of modern biotechnology. Here we introduce a micromachining technique to pattern an inert and transparent polymer matrix blended with a photoactive polymer. We demonstrate that the obtained scaffold combines the capability to align with that to photostimulate living cells. This technology can open up new and promising applications, especially where cell alignment is required to trigger specific biological functions, e.g., generate powerful and efficient muscle contractions following an external stimulus.