Multilayer fabrication of unobtrusive poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanobrush for tunable cell adhesion

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 12;9(1):1834. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-37893-w.

Abstract

Precise modulation of polymer brush in its thickness and grafting density can cause unexpected cell behaviors and regulated bioactivities. Herein, a nanoscale poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) brush was employed to use as a controllable material for cell adhesion. Facile fabrication of ultrathin monolayer PDMS nanobrush on an underlying substrate facilitated regaining cell adhesion through long-range cell attractive forces such as the van der Waals forces. We showed that cell adhesion is diminished by increasing the number of nanobrush layers, causing a gradual decrease of the effectiveness of the long-range force. The result demonstrates that ultrathin PDMS nanobrush can either promote or inhibit cell adhesion, which is required for various biomedical fields such as tissue-engineering, anti-fouling coating, and implantable biomaterials and sensors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Materials Testing
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Surface Properties
  • Tissue Engineering / instrumentation*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Polymers
  • baysilon
  • Oxygen