Hybrid interfaces between living cells and nano/microstructured scaffolds have huge application potential in biotechnology, spanning from regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies to localized drug delivery and from biosensing and tissue engineering to neural computing. However, 3D architectures based on semiconducting polymers, endowed with responsivity to visible light, have never been considered. Here, we apply for the first time a push-coating technique to realize high aspect ratio polymeric pillars, based on polythiophene, showing optimal biocompatibility and allowing for the realization of soft, 3D cell cultures of both primary neurons and cell line models. HEK-293 cells cultured on top of polymer pillars display a remarkable change in the cell morphology and a sizable enhancement of the membrane capacitance due to the cell membrane thinning in correspondence to the pillars' top surface, without negatively affecting cell proliferation. Electrophysiology properties and synapse number of primary neurons are also very well preserved. In perspective, high aspect ratio semiconducting polymer pillars may find interesting applications as soft, photoactive elements for cell activity sensing and modulation.

Hybrid interfaces between living cells and nano/microstructured scaffolds have huge application potential in biotechnology, spanning from regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies to localized drug delivery and from biosensing and tissue engineering to neural computing. However, 3D architectures based on semiconducting polymers, endowed with responsivity to visible light, have never been considered. Here, we apply for the first time a push-coating technique to realize high aspect ratio polymeric pillars, based on polythiophene, showing optimal biocompatibility and allowing for the realization of soft, 3D cell cultures of both primary neurons and cell line models. HEK-293 cells cultured on top of polymer pillars display a remarkable change in the cell morphology and a sizable enhancement of the membrane capacitance due to the cell membrane thinning in correspondence to the pillars' top surface, without negatively affecting cell proliferation. Electrophysiology properties and synapse number of primary neurons are also very well preserved. In perspective, high aspect ratio semiconducting polymer pillars may find interesting applications as soft, photoactive elements for cell activity sensing and modulation.

Tullii, G., Giona, F., Lodola, F., Bonfadini, S., Bossio, C., Varo, S., et al. (2019). High-Aspect-Ratio Semiconducting Polymer Pillars for 3D Cell Cultures. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, 11(31), 28125-28137 [10.1021/acsami.9b08822].

High-Aspect-Ratio Semiconducting Polymer Pillars for 3D Cell Cultures

Lodola F;
2019

Abstract

Hybrid interfaces between living cells and nano/microstructured scaffolds have huge application potential in biotechnology, spanning from regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies to localized drug delivery and from biosensing and tissue engineering to neural computing. However, 3D architectures based on semiconducting polymers, endowed with responsivity to visible light, have never been considered. Here, we apply for the first time a push-coating technique to realize high aspect ratio polymeric pillars, based on polythiophene, showing optimal biocompatibility and allowing for the realization of soft, 3D cell cultures of both primary neurons and cell line models. HEK-293 cells cultured on top of polymer pillars display a remarkable change in the cell morphology and a sizable enhancement of the membrane capacitance due to the cell membrane thinning in correspondence to the pillars' top surface, without negatively affecting cell proliferation. Electrophysiology properties and synapse number of primary neurons are also very well preserved. In perspective, high aspect ratio semiconducting polymer pillars may find interesting applications as soft, photoactive elements for cell activity sensing and modulation.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
bioelectronics; conjugated polymer; living cell morphology; membrane capacitance; organic semiconductor; push-coating; three-dimensional cultures;
High-Aspect-Ratio Semiconducting Polymer Pillars, 3D Cell Cultures, neurons
English
2019
11
31
28125
28137
reserved
Tullii, G., Giona, F., Lodola, F., Bonfadini, S., Bossio, C., Varo, S., et al. (2019). High-Aspect-Ratio Semiconducting Polymer Pillars for 3D Cell Cultures. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, 11(31), 28125-28137 [10.1021/acsami.9b08822].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/284265
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