Patterned and switchable surfaces for biomaterial applications

Chapter 1 - Introductionachieved by the production of amine rich surfaces, which are typically protonated atphysiological pH. Common strategies for the formation of aminated surfaces aresilanisation of glass, the adsorption of cationic molecules such as PEI and plasmapolymerisation of amine containing monomers [24, 34, 42]. The use of cationicpolymers is particularly useful for TCM applications as complexes formed betweenDNA and unbound cationic polymers can efficiently permeate the cellular membrane[163].1.4.4.2. Cell seeding and attachmentSuccessful seeding and attachment of cells requires an adherent cell line and abiocompatible surface. There are many suitable surfaces for cell microarrayformation including glass, silicon and tissue culture polystyrene, all of which areamenable to a variety of surface modifications. Furthermore, a method has beendeveloped whereupon non-adherent cell lines are immobilised on a surface,increasing the scope of cell lines applicable for the TCM method [164]. This wasachieved by modifying a glass surface with oleyl poly(ethylene glycol) ether, whichacts as an anchor for subsequent membrane attachment.TCMs can benefit from advanced cell patterning techniques if these methods canrestrict cell attachment to regions where DNA has been deposited previously andprevent the migration of DNA or transfected cells. Research on cell patterning hasfocussed on producing ‘black-and-white’ patterned surfaces containing bothbioactive regions that support protein and cell attachment, and non-adhesive regionsthat resist biomolecule attachment. As cells attach to a surface by the production ofsurface adhering proteins the manipulation of protein adsorption and cell attachmentare closely related. A technical review of the various approaches to modifyingsurfaces for patterned cell growth has been recently published [66]. Strategies for1-52