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Regulation of cell adhesion using a signal‐responsive membrane substrate
Author(s) -
Okajima Shuhei,
Yamaguchi Takeo,
Sakai Yasuyuki,
Nakao Shinichi
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.20512
Subject(s) - substrate (aquarium) , cell adhesion , adhesion , chemistry , membrane , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , signal (programming language) , cell , biochemistry , biology , computer science , ecology , organic chemistry , programming language
We have developed a novel cell culture material that regulates cell adhesion by changes in potassium ion concentration. The material is a polyethylene substrate grafted to a copolymer of the thermoresponsive polymer N ‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and benzo‐18‐crown‐ 6‐acrylamide (BCAm), with a pendant crown ether as sensor. The crown ether recognizes potassium ion concentrations and NIPAM conformational changes lead to changes in the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balance of the entire polymer at constant cell culture temperatures. Although cells were successfully cultured on the ion recognition material in normal culture medium at 37°C, the cells could be detached from the material surface by adding potassium ions alone, without proteolytic enzymes, because the surface to which the cells were attached altered its surface characteristics to a more hydrophilic state. Therefore, cell layers with intact cell‐to‐cell junctions and high activities were successfully recovered. Furthermore, by changing the target sensors, this material will be able to control cell adhesion through various cellular signals. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.