Biocompatible and Biomimetic Self Assembly of Functional Nanostructures
Abstract
Immobilization of individual cells and collections of cells in well defined reproducible nano-to-microscale structures that allow structural and functional manipulation and interrogation is important for developing new classes of biotic/abiotic materials for establishing the relationship between genotype and phenotype and for elucidating responses to disease injury/stress or therapy - primary goals of biomedical research Although there has been considerable recent progress in investigating the response of cells to chemical or topological patterns defined lithographically on two-dimensional (2D) surfaces it is time to advance from 2D adhesion on dishes/fluidic devices to 3D architectures that better represent the natural nanoporous and 3D extracellular matrix (EGM) 3D immobilization in nanostructured hosts enables cells to be surrounded by other cells maintains fluidic connectivity/accessibility and allows development of 3D molecular or chemical gradients that provide an instructive background to guide cellular behavior Although 3D cell immobilization in polymers hydrogels and inorganic gels has been practiced for decades these approaches do not provide for bio/nano interfaces with 3D spatial control of topology and composition important to both the maintenance of natural cellular behavior patterns and the development of new non-native behaviors and functions. In particular for ALL previously reported approaches there was no apparent effect of the cell on the surrounding host nor any apparent means to purposefully use the nanostructured host to develop new cellular behaviors. Here we show that cell directed assembly (GDA) to be a unique distinguishing approach to prepare new bio/nano interfaces and to develop new cellular behaviors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 17, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA476610
Entities
People
- C. Jeffrey Brinker
Organizations
- University of New Mexico