Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell scaffolds based on connected nematic liquid crystal elastomer microsphere architectures support the attachment and proliferation of C2C12 myoblasts, neuroblastomas (SHSY5Y) and human dermal fibroblasts (hDF). The microsphere spatial cell scaffolds were prepared by an oil-in-water microemulsion photopolymerization of reactive nematic mesogens in the presence of various surfactants, and the as-prepared scaffold constructs are composed of smooth surface microspheres with diameter ranging from 10 to 30 μm. We here investigate how the nature and type of surfactant used during the microemulsion photopolymerization impacts both the size and size distribution of the resulting microspheres as well as their surface morphology, i.e. the surface roughness.
Highlights
Once the photopolymerization is complete, and the water–toluene solvent mixture is removed by evaporation, the final liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) are thoroughly washed and rinsed to completely eliminate the surfactant, which results in voids between the LCE globules
We have previously demonstrated that nematic globular-LCE scaffolds allow for attachment, growth, and proliferation of skeletal muscle cells (C2C12 myoblasts, Bera et al, 2015)
In this follow-up study, we demonstrate that other surfactants promote globular LCE scaffold formation, allowing us to tune several morphological parameters that allow for the multiplication of even challenging cell lines
Summary
Numerous biological and biocompatible synthetic materials have been developed for specific applications in tissue regeneration, and most are based on proteins, polysaccharides, polymers (e.g., PEG), peptides, or ceramic scaffolds (Koegler and Griffith, 2004; Kotov et al, 2004; Liu et al, 2005; Shanbhag et al, 2005; Lee and Kotov, 2009; Lee et al, 2009; DeForest and Anseth, 2012; McCall et al, 2012; Alge et al, 2013; Lewis and Anseth, 2013; McKinnon et al, 2013). With the exception of some shape-memory polymers, only very few of these materials are examples of biocompatible scaffolds that can, by choice and on demand, respond to several external stimuli with an anisotropic molecular ordering event like liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). Abbott et al (2010) (Lockwood et al, 2006) and Fang et al (2003) have provided significant evidence that liquid crystals (LCs) can sense the growth, orientational order, and differentiation of cells. Abbott reported that the orientational order of nematic LCs is coupled with the orientational order of cells via a thin layer of Matrigel® (Lockwood et al, 2006; Lowe and Abbott, 2012).
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