Cell Adhesion on Dynamic Supramolecular Surfaces Probed by Fluid Force Microscopy-Based Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy

Shrikrishnan Sankaran, Leena Jaatinen, Jenny Brinkmann, Tomaso Zambelli, Janos Vörös, Pascal Jonkheijm

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    32 Citations (Scopus)
    254 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Biomimetic and stimuli-responsive cell-material interfaces are actively being developed to study and control various cell-dynamics phenomena. Since cells naturally reside in the highly dynamic and complex environment of the extracellular matrix, attempts are being made to replicate these conditions in synthetic biomaterials. Supramolecular chemistry, dealing with noncovalent interactions, has recently provided possibilities to incorporate such dynamicity and responsiveness in various types of architectures. Using a cucurbit[8]uril-based host-guest system, we have successfully established a dynamic and electrochemically responsive interface for the display of the integrin-specific ligand, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), to promote cell adhesion. Due to the weak nature of the noncovalent forces by which the components at the interface are held together, we expected that cell adhesion would also be weaker in comparison to traditional interfaces where ligands are usually immobilized by covalent linkages. To assess the stability and limitations of our noncovalent interfaces, we performed single-cell force spectroscopy studies using fluid force microscopy. This technique enabled us to measure rupture forces of multiple cells that were allowed to adhere for several hours on individual substrates. We found that the rupture forces of cells adhered to both the noncovalent and covalent interfaces were nearly identical for up to several hours. We have analyzed and elucidated the reasons behind this result as a combination of factors including the weak rupture force between linear Arg-Gly-Asp and integrin, high surface density of the ligand, and increase in effective concentration of the supramolecular components under spread cells. These characteristics enable the construction of highly dynamic biointerfaces without compromising cell-adhesive properties.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)3867-3874
    Number of pages8
    JournalACS Nano
    Volume11
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 25 Apr 2017
    Publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • cucurbit[8]urils
    • FluidFM
    • self-assembled monolayers
    • single-cell force spectroscopy
    • supramolecular chemistry

    Publication forum classification

    • Publication forum level 3

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Materials Science
    • General Engineering
    • General Physics and Astronomy

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