Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics Research Group

Review Paper

Controlling Cell Behavior Through the Design of Polymer Surfaces

Abstract

Polymers have gained a remarkable place in the biomedical field as materials for the fabrication of various devices and for tissue engineering applications. The initial acceptance or rejection of an implantable device is dictated by the crosstalk of the material surface with the bioentities present in the physiological environment. Advances in microfabrication and nanotechnology offer new tools to investigate the complex signaling cascade induced by the components of the extracellular matrix and consequently allow cellular responses to be tailored through the mimicking of some elements of the signaling paths. Patterning methods and selective chemical modification schemes at different length scales can provide biocompatible surfaces that control cellular interactions on the micrometer and sub-micrometer scales on which cells are organized. In this review, the potential of chemically and topographically structured micro- and nanopolymer surfaces are discussed in hopes of a better understanding of cell biomaterial interactions, including the recent use of biomimetic approaches or stimuli-responsive macromolecules. Additionally, the focus will be on how the knowledge obtained using these surfaces can be incorporated to design biocompatible materials for various biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, implants, cell-based biosensors, diagnostic systems, and basic cell biology. The review focusses on the research carried out during the last decade.

Journal
Small
Volume
6
Issue
20
Pagination
2208–2220
Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, PO BOX 10 11 61, D-69451 WEINHEIM, GERMANY
ISSN
1613-6810
URL
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.201000233/epdf
Keywords
BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS, cell adhesion, POLYELECTROLYTE MULTILAYER FILMS, scaffolds, self-assembled monolayers
Rights
Open Access
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Status
published
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