Model membrane-mediated cell alignment through surface hydrophobicity

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe show a realization of well-controlled alignments of human lung fibroblast cell parallel to the guided direction achieved by selectively patterned model membranes. The supported lipid bilayer membranes (SLBMs)-mediated cell alignment and selective growth in particular un- derlying surface properties were achieved through peeling-off of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp. We used the PDMS not only as a microfluidic channel to reconstruct model membrane on a hydrophilic surface, but also as a self-inking stamp for the substrate-surface modification by transfer of outmost low-molecular weight PDMS oligomers (S-PDMS). We found that surface hydrophobicity of solid supports is controlled by thermally-assisted stamping methods and this is crucial for the cell adhesion in lipid-free regions.