Fabrication of polymeric substrates with micro- and nanoscale topography bioimprinted at progressive cell morphologies

Abstract

This work introduces a novel process for the fabrication of polymer cell culture substrates containing physical topography based on timepoint specific cell phenotype replicas. Bioimprinting of human nasal chondrocyte at different cell adhesion time points was used to demonstrate the nanoscale replication process. Atomic force microscopy confirmed morphology progression at 1, 6, 12, and 24 h timepoints corresponding to dedifferentiation of the chondrocytes to fibroblast-like phenotype. Topographical analysis of the imprinted substrates yielded an inverse relationship between surface coverage, increasing from 11% to 87%, and maximum average pattern depth, decreasing from 1.2 lm to 430 nm. Methacrylate bioimprint features were successively replicated into a transitional polydmethylsiloxane mold used as an intermediate for further replication into polystyrene by a highthroughput embossing method. Substrates fabricated with this process have applications in stem cell engineering, regenerative medicine, and implantable devices.

Bioimprinting: Bringing Together 2D and 3D in Dissecting Cancer Biology

“…In the same period, a newly developed hot embossing method was introduced, where the high-resolution transfer of nanoscale geometric shapes from PDMS to other polymers like polystyrene was efficiently achieved [48]. This paved the way for the development of bioimprinting on polystyrene, which is the most commonly used cell culture substrate [49]. In another study, with the help of PDMS circular culture chambers, a replica of Ishikawa cells cultured onto glass slides was used to produce a bioimprinted substrate, which was later used for cell culture.…”

“…The most prominent feature of this technique is that it captures not only the microtopography of the cell, but the nanotopographic features as well, and provides a diverse range of biophysical cues that are more physiologically relevant than the cues generated with geometric topographies [49,51]. In addition, the process of recapitulation of cell features is simple and robust (Supplementary Figure 2).…”

Conductive Bioimprint Using Soft Lithography Technique Based on PEDOT:PSS for Biosensing

“…Numerous studies have reported that culture platforms with topographical features influence cell orientation, migration, morphology, proliferation and differentiation. Various surface topographically defined patterns such as PDMS [ 3 , 4 ], glass [ 4 ], Permanox [ 4 ], methacrylate [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], polystyrene [ 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 ], poly (ethylene glycol) terephthalate-poly (butylene terephthalate), (PEGT-PBT) [ 10 ] and non-polymer materials such as Casein [ 11 , 12 ] have previously been reported. These studies have been used to understand cell–surface interactions, growth, adhesion, spreading, morphology, proliferation and differentiation of biological cells, as well as cell respond to anticancer drugs [ 8 ], as a response to surface topography and substrate material [ 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Various surface topographically defined patterns such as PDMS [ 3 , 4 ], glass [ 4 ], Permanox [ 4 ], methacrylate [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], polystyrene [ 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 ], poly (ethylene glycol) terephthalate-poly (butylene terephthalate), (PEGT-PBT) [ 10 ] and non-polymer materials such as Casein [ 11 , 12 ] have previously been reported. These studies have been used to understand cell–surface interactions, growth, adhesion, spreading, morphology, proliferation and differentiation of biological cells, as well as cell respond to anticancer drugs [ 8 ], as a response to surface topography and substrate material [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. As an example, they have shown that cells, which would normally grow randomly on a flat surface in vitro, would align along the surface patterns if grown on parallel lines [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 9 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Enhanced pattern resolution, swelling-behaviour and biocompatibility of bioimprinted casein microdevices

“…Biological cells cultured on engineered surfaces, with either regular [1][2][3][4] or bioimprinted cellular [5][6][7][8][9][10] micro-and nano-scale features, have shown a distinctive behaviour regarding their proliferation, regulation and response to drugs, as compared to when cultured on flat surfaces. Previously, such patterns have typically been replicated onto non-biodegradable, but cell-compatible materials such as Polystyrene and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which are commonly used for engineering purposes, as well as some metals used in implants.…”