Tailoring cellular microenvironments using scaffolds based on magnetically-responsive polymer brushes

J Mater Chem B. 2020 Nov 18;8(44):10172-10181. doi: 10.1039/d0tb01853h.

Abstract

A variety of polymeric scaffolds with the ability to control cell detachment has been created for cell culture using stimuli-responsive polymers. However, the widely studied and commonly used thermo-responsive polymeric substrates always affect the properties of the cultured cells due to the temperature stimulus. Here, we present a different stimuli-responsive approach based on poly(3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride) (poly(APTAC)) brushes with homogeneously embedded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Neuroblastoma cell detachment was triggered by an external magnetic field, enabling a non-invasive process of controlled transfer into a new place without additional mechanical scratching and chemical/biochemical compound treatment. Hybrid scaffolds obtained in simultaneous surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) working in the magnetic mode, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the magnetic properties and chemical structure. Moreover, neuroblastoma cells were cultured and characterized before and after exposure to a neodymium magnet. Controlled cell transfer triggered by a magnetic field is presented here as well.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Cellular Microenvironment / drug effects*
  • Cellular Microenvironment / physiology
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis*
  • Polymers / pharmacology
  • Tissue Scaffolds*

Substances

  • Polymers