Spatio‐Temporal Control of LbL Films for Biomedical Applications: From 2D to 3D

Abstract

Introduced in the '90s by Prof. Moehwald, Lvov, and Decher, the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of polyelectrolytes has become a popular technique to engineer various types of objects such as films, capsules and free standing membranes, with an unprecedented control at the nanometer and micrometer scales. The LbL technique allows to engineer biofunctional surface coatings, which may be dedicated to biomedical applications in vivo but also to fundamental studies and diagnosis in vitro. Initially mostly developed as 2D coatings and hollow capsules, the range of complex objects created by the LbL technique has greatly expanded in the past 10 years. In this Review, the aim is to highlight the recent progress in the field of LbL films for biomedical applications and to discuss the various ways to spatially and temporally control the biochemical and mechanical properties of multilayers. In particular, three major developments of LbL films are discussed: 1) the new methods and templates to engineer LbL films and control cellular processes from adhesion to differentiation, 2) the major ways to achieve temporal control by chemical, biological and physical triggers and, 3) the combinations of LbL technique, cells and scaffolds for repairing 3D tissues, including cardio-vascular devices, bone implants and neuro-prosthetic devices.

Growth and Differentiation of Myoblastic Precursor Cells on Thin Films of Metallo‐Supramolecular Coordination Polyelectrolyte (MEPE)

“…[3] The initial interaction of cells with a particular material is determined by its chemical composition, the surface energy, as well as its roughness and topography of the top surface layers [4] and finally the mechanical properties [5,6] of the interface. [3] The initial interaction of cells with a particular material is determined by its chemical composition, the surface energy, as well as its roughness and topography of the top surface layers [4] and finally the mechanical properties [5,6] of the interface.…”

Preparation of Chitosan/Poly‐γ‐Glutamic Acid Polyelectrolyte Multilayers on Biomedical Metals for Local Antibiotic Delivery

“…The concept of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) was first introduced in 1966 [3], and it has been widely applied in some of the most recent developments on photochemical disruption [4], drug loading control [5] and antibacterial applications [6][7][8][9][10]. PEMs are formed by alternating layer-by-layer deposition of chitosan/poly-glutamic acid polyelectrolyte (C/PGA) multilayers of 10, 20 and 30.…”

Controlling the surface‐mediated release of DNA using ‘mixed multilayers’

“…When combined with other practical advantages of layer‐by‐layer assembly, including control over film thickness, DNA loading and composition, and the relative ease with which these methods can be used to fabricate conformal films on topologically complex objects (including the surfaces of common medical interventional devices), this ‘multilayered’ approach has the potential to be broadly useful for the development of new strategies for the localized delivery of DNA in vitro and in vivo . However, while layer‐by‐layer assembly has been used widely in the basic research community to design coatings for the delivery or contact transfer of DNA, there are currently no applications of these tools used in clinical practice.…”