A switchable light-responsive azopolymer conjugating protein micropatterns with topography for mechanobiological studies

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Stem cell shape and mechanical properties in vitro can be directed by geometrically defined micropatterned adhesion substrates. However, conventional methods are limited by the fixed micropattern design, which cannot recapitulate the dynamic changes of the natural cell microenvironment. Current methods to fabricate dynamic platforms usually rely on complex chemical strategies or require specialized apparatuses. Also, with these methods, the integration of dynamic signals acting on different length scales is not straightforward, whereas, in some applications, it might be beneficial to act on both a microscale level, that is, cell shape, and a nanoscale level, that is, cell adhesions. Here, we exploited a confocal laser-based technique on a light-responsive azopolymer displaying micropatterns of adhesive islands. The laser light promotes a directed mass migration and the formation of submicrometric topographic relieves. Also, by changing the surface chemistry, the surfacing topography affects cell spreading and shape. This method enabled us to monitor in a non-invasive manner the dynamic changes in focal adhesions, cytoskeleton structures, and nucleus conformation that followed the changes in the adhesive characteristic of the substrate. Focal adhesions reconfigured after the surfacing of the topography, and the actin filaments reoriented to coalign with the newly formed adhesive

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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