Biodegradable Anisotropic Microparticles for Stepwise Cell Adhesion and Preparation of Janus Cell Microparticles

Abstract

The biomimetic anisotropic particles have different physicochemical properties on the opposite two sides, enabling diverse applications in emulsion, photonic display, and diagnosis. However, the traditional anisotropic particles have a very small size, ranging from submicrons to a few microns. The design and fabrication of anisotropic macron-sized particles with new structures and properties is still challenging. In this study, anisotropic polycaprolactone (PCL) microparticles well separated with each other were prepared by crystallization from the dilute PCL solution in a porous 3D gelatin template. They had fuzzy and smooth surfaces on each side, and a size as large as 70 μm. The fuzzy surface of the particle adsorbed significantly larger amount of proteins, and was more cell-attractive regardless of the cell types. The particles showed stronger affinity toward fibroblasts over hepatocytes, which paved a new way for cell isolation merely based on the surface morphology. After a successive seeding process, Janus cell microparticles with fibroblasts and endothelial cells (ECs) on each side were designed and obtained by making use of the anisotropic surface morphology, which showed significant difference in EC functions in terms of prostacyclin (PGl2) secretion, demonstrating the unique and appealing functions of this type of anisotropic microspheres.

Mechanochemical Patternable ECM‐Mimetic Hydrogels for Programmed Cell Orientation

“…In the future, the versatility of the mechanical patterning process here disclosed could also be leveraged to design Janus topographical landscapes. [ 104 ] Overall, this study demonstrates that covalently adaptable features in hydrogels inspired in natural ECM crosslinking can be leveraged for mechanically imprinting their surfaces with complex geometrical features. Simultaneous presentation of nanotopography in an inherently cell adhesive substrate provides a more faithful ECM‐mimetic environment to cells, due to the seamless presentation of biophysical and biomolecular cues.…”

Advanced Bottom‐Up Engineering of Living Architectures

“…In vitro cell culture of endothelial cells added stepwise to Janus particles smooth side, induced different prostacyclin secretion by endothelial cells. These particles demonstrated higher affinity toward fibroblasts as opposite to hepatocytes, opening new avenues for cell isolation based solely on particles morphological features . Selective cells isolation in antibody‐functionalized microparticles has also been successfully demonstrated, further contributing toward the toolbox of available approaches for biospecific control over cell–particle adhesion .…”

“…D) Schematics of anisotropic PCL microparticles selective cell adhesion concept; particles display a Janus structure with fuzzy or smooth surface. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2018, American Chemical Society.…”

Recent trends in sorbents for bioaffinity chromatography

“…Biodegradable anisotropic microparticles, earthicle-based ferrofluids (e.g. ferrofluids comprising superparamagnetic ironoxide/silicate/carbon core/shell/crust nanoparticles), and a hierarchical macroporous material with dual responsive copolymer brushes and phenylboronic acid ligands are the sorbents recently developed for the capture of different cell types [161][162][163].…”