Abstract
Artificial scaffolds such as synthetic gels or chemically-modified glass surfaces that have often been used to achieve cell adhesion are xenobiotic and may harm cells. To enhance the value of cell studies in the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, it is becoming increasingly important to create a cell-friendly technique to promote cell–cell contact. In the present study, we developed a novel method for constructing stable cellular assemblies by using optical tweezers in a solution of a natural hydrophilic polymer, dextran. In this method, a target cell is transferred to another target cell to make cell–cell contact by optical tweezers in a culture medium containing dextran. When originally non-cohesive cells are held in contact with each other for a few minutes under laser trapping, stable cell–cell adhesion is accomplished. This method for creating cellular assemblies in the presence of a natural hydrophilic polymer may serve as a novel next-generation 3D single-cell assembly system with future applications in the growing field of regenerative medicine.
Highlights
Stem-cell-based tissue engineering has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of intractable diseases [1,2]
The focal point of the laser is marked by the optical tweezers and dextran
It is widely considered that cell adhesion may be engendered using the congestion or crowding effect [4], which has been attributable to the effect of higher osmotic pressure
Summary
Stem-cell-based tissue engineering has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of intractable diseases [1,2]. Recent trials aimed at producing cellular scaffolds using natural polymers including gelatin, chitosan, dextran, alginate and collagen have been gaining significant momentum [11,12,13,14,15,16]. While these natural polymers have been used to promote cellular adhesion within these cell structures in a non-selective manner, further improvements in hydrogel biocompatibility and adaptability for handling 3D cellular assembly systems are needed
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