Electric Field Induced Assembly of Vimentin Microscaffolds around Metallic Electrodes

Abstract

The self-assembly properties of fibrous proteins such as collagen are frequently used to form three-dimensional scaffolds. In this study we investigated the effect of nonuniform alternating and static electric-fields on the self-assembly properties of a dilute solution of vimentin. In the presence of both types of fields at the same time, vimentin was observed to accumulate at the positive electrode and to form microscaffolds bridging the two electrodes in 20-30 min. Atomic force microscopy of the surface of dried microscaffolds revealed the presence of dense 8-12 nm diameter vimentin filament meshworks as well as bundles with typical diameters of 100-200 nm. Stretching of the scaffolds revealed that either the bundles or drawn meshworks could be extended to at least 6-fold and the presence fibers with a width of several μm.

Competitive Counterion Binding Regulates the Aggregation Onset of Vimentin Intermediate Filaments

“…In comparison, DNA has about twice the surface charge (−144 mC m −2 ) and F‐actin exhibits a two‐fold smaller value (−29 mC m −2 ). The existence of an effective surface charge of vimentin has been convincingly demonstrated by applying an electrical field to a protein solution and observing that the protein accumulates at the positively charged electrode …”

In‐Film Bioprocessing and Immunoanalysis with Electroaddressable Stimuli‐Responsive Polysaccharides

“…For instance, printing and photolithographic patterning employ mechanical and optical inputs, [6,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] while there are growing efforts to use electrical stimuli to perform functions such as electroaddressing. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] Finally, biological materials and mechanisms may offer opportunities to ''biofabricate'' functional hydrogel films. [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] For instance, stimuli-responsive biological polymers form hydrogels in response to mild stimuli, these hydrogel networks can be reversibly formed/broken, and there is extensive biotechnological experience with biopolymer-based hydrogels (e.g., gelatin and agarose).…”

“…Second, fabrication methods for patterning films often enlist convenient, spatiotemporally controllable stimuli. For instance, printing and photolithographic patterning employ mechanical and optical inputs,6, 8–14 while there are growing efforts to use electrical stimuli to perform functions such as electroaddressing 15–33. Finally, biological materials and mechanisms may offer opportunities to “biofabricate” functional hydrogel films 34–41.…”