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Cellular alignment by grafted adhesion peptide surface density gradients
Author(s) -
Kang Catherine E.,
Gemeinhart Ernest J.,
Gemeinhart Richard A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.30137
Subject(s) - extracellular matrix , materials science , biophysics , adhesion , cell adhesion , peptide , elongation , tissue engineering , extracellular , matrix (chemical analysis) , density gradient , nanotechnology , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biomedical engineering , biochemistry , chemistry , biology , composite material , physics , medicine , quantum mechanics , ultimate tensile strength
The extracellular matrix and extracellular matrix‐associated proteins play a major role in growth and differentiation of tissues and organs. To date, few methods have been developed that allow researchers to examine the affect of surface density gradients of adhesion molecules in a controlled manner. Fibroblasts cultured on surfaces with a surface density gradient of RGD peptide aligned parallel to the gradient while fibroblasts on constant density RGD surfaces spread but did not align as has been shown in numerous earlier studies. Not only did fibroblasts align on the gradient surfaces, but they also showed significantly greater elongation than on constant density peptide surfaces or on control surfaces. This type of method is easy to replicate and can be used by laboratories interested in investigating alignment of various cell types without mechanical force or other stimulation, and without cell–cell interaction or for investigation of affects of surface density gradients of molecules on cellular biochemistry and biophysics. This method also has potential applications for developing scaffolds for tissue engineering applications where cellular alignment is necessary. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 71A: 403–411, 2004