Selectively triggered cell detachment from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel functionalized substrates.

The stimuli-triggered cell attachment/detachment from responsive polymer-coated surfaces is influenced by several parameters including electrostatic interactions, wettability and swelling of the polymer coating. Herein, the supported dual thermo- and pH-responsive cationic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel, surface-functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or poly-2-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate (PDMAEMA), were used as substrates to investigate the role of these parameters on the cell behavior. The microgel were covalently immobilized on glass coverslips and their stimuli-triggered cell detachment ability towards cultured bEnd.3, MCF7 and U138 cell lineages was investigated. The microgel surface-functionalized with PEG chains presented cell adhesion and proliferation rates comparable to controls, while providing the best thermo-triggered detachment performance with MCF7 and U138 cells. This behavior was associated with a preserved hydrophilic character of the microgel surface regardless of the temperature and pH. The swelling behavior of all microgels tuned by pH gave rise to significant cellular detachment only for U138 cells. However, bEnd.3 cell detachment could not be triggered neither by temperature nor pH, regardless of the microgel surface coating. [Display omitted] • Responsive microgel coatings modulate the attachment/detachment behavior of cells. • Cell attachment and proliferation on microgel coatings is similar to the controls. • Triggered cell detachment is favored on microgels surface-functionalized with PEG. • Detachment could not be triggered by any responsive microgel for bEnd.3 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]