Nanowell-Trapped Charged Ligand-Bearing Nanoparticle Surfaces – A Novel Method of Enhancing Flow-Resistant Cell Adhesion

Authors

Phat L. Tran, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZFollow
Jessica R. Gamboa, University of Arizona,
Katherine E. McCracken, University of ArizonaFollow
Mark R. Riley, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Marvin J. Slepian, University of ArizonaFollow
Jeong-Yeal Yoon, University of ArizonaFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

7-2013

Citation

Published in final edited form as: Adv Healthc Mater. 2013 July ; 2(7): 1019–1027. doi:10.1002/adhm.201200250.

Author manuscript; available in PMC 2014 July 01. This is the version archived here.

4 supplemental files are attached below.

Comments

© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Abstract

Assuring cell adhesion to an underlying biomaterial surface is vital in implant device design and tissue engineering, particularly under circumstances where cells are subjected to potential detachment from overriding fl uid fl ow. Cell–substrate adhesion is a highly regulated process involving the interplay of mechanical properties, surface topographic features, electrostatic charge, and biochemical mechanisms. At the nanoscale level, the physical properties of the underlying substrate are of particular importance in cell adhesion. Conventionally, natural, pro-adhesive, and often thrombogenic, protein biomaterials are frequently utilized to facilitate adhesion. In the present study, nanofabrication techniques are utilized to enhance the biological functionality of a synthetic polymer surface, polymethymethacrylate, with respect to cell adhesion. Specifi cally we examine the effect on cell adhesion of combining: 1. optimized surface texturing, 2. electrostatic charge and 3. cell adhesive ligands, uniquely assembled on the substrata surface, as an ensemble of nanoparticles trapped in nanowells. Our results reveal that the ensemble strategy leads to enhanced, more than simply additive, endothelial cell adhesion under both static and fl ow conditions. This strategy may be of particular utility for enhancing fl ow-resistant endothelialization of blood-contacting surfaces of cardiovascular devices subjected to flow-mediated shear.