Polymer Surface Interacts with Calcium in Aqueous Media to Induce Stem Cell Assembly

Abstract

Bioinspired surface with functional group rearrangement abilities are highly desirable for designing functional materials. Calcium ion (Ca(2+) ) is a pivotal life element and the ion transport is tightly regulated through calcium channels. It is demonstrated here that Ca(2+) can be transported by polymer surface to induce cell assembly. A series of polyurethane materials is synthesized with different abilities to rearrange the surface functional groups in response to aqueous environment. It is observed that surface recruitment of carboxyl and amino groups from the bulk material can interact with Ca(2+) and facilitate its translocation from aqueous media into cells. The surface rearrangement of functional group triggers the calcium trafficking and turns on signals involving cell merging and assembly. This observation provides an insight on adjusting material-calcium interaction to design nature-inspired smart interfaces to induce cell organization and tissue regeneration.

Synthesis and characterization of waterborne polyurethane containing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) as new biodegradable elastomers

“…35 The round cell morphology may be associated with the increased cell migration. 36 The large microphase separation of PCLHBh(95) may facilitate cell migration. 34 According to the literature, the PHB segment may be hydrolyzed by enzymes in vivo.…”

Engineering a Cell Home for Stem Cell Homing and Accommodation

“…In contrast, synthetic materials (e.g., PEG and self‐assembling polypeptides) are being designed to integrate bioactive ligands for cells to respond and assimilate within the ECM once implanted in vivo, thus simulating the spatiotemporal control of the wound‐healing environment for tissue repair and regeneration . Bioinspired surfaces with functional group rearrangement abilities, such as the ability to adjust the material‐calcium interaction, can trigger the trafficking of calcium ions, a pivotal life element, from aqueous media into cells, followed by activation of signals involving cell merging and assembly; this finding provides new insight into the design nature‐inspired biomaterial interfaces to coax cell homing and induce in situ tissue regeneration …”

Biomaterial Substrate‐Mediated Multicellular Spheroid Formation and Their Applications in Tissue Engineering

“…These specially designed scaffolds not only shortened the culturing time because of in situ spheroid formation, but also had the potential application in customized tissue engineering because of the 3D printing capabilities. The polyurethane actually activated calcium signaling in a way similar to chitosan …”