Micropatterns of cell adhesive proteins with poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐Poly(4‐vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer

Abstract

Control of cell shape and behavior through the micropattern technique by spatial immobilization of adhesive proteins on a surface has provided novel insights in several aspects of cell biology, such as tissue morphogenesis, cell growth and cell differentiation, and apoptosis. In this work, we present the use of poly(ethylene oxide-blockpoly(4-vinylpyridine) (PEO-b-P4VP) as a non-adhesive background to construct micropatterns of cell adhesive proteins. In the method presented, PEO-b-P4VP is used for its antifouling properties and at the same time, as a photosensitive material to define the micropatterns. The irradiation of PEO-b-P4VP with a short wavelength UV light through photolithographic mask, causes the polymer to crosslink and immobilize in the areas exposed. In the areas non-exposed the polymer can be removed. These areas can be subsequent back filled with the adhesive protein of interest to produce the final micropatterned cell chips.

Thermoresponsive Micropatterned Substrates for Single Cell Studies

“…by adsorption of a block-copolymer containing a protein-repellent part (often poly(ethylene-glycol)) stretching away from the underlying surface. Such a uniform brush is subsequently patterned by selective UV irradiation to create adhesive zones [11], [12].…”

“…A key point in designing such surfaces is to obtain a high contrast between the regions onto which cells attach and the surrounding non-adhesive background. The use of background polymer coatings, and in particular polymer brushes, have become a favorite choice, for they exhibit excellent protein-repellency, hence efficient cell non-adhesiveness [5][6][7][8].…”