Liquid Crystal-Induced Myoblast Alignment

Year: 2019

Authors: Martella D., Pattelli L., Matassini C., Ridi F., Bonini M., Paoli P., Baglioni P., Wiersma D., Parmeggiani C.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Florence, Dept Chem Ugo Schiff, Via Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; European Lab Nonlinear Spect, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; CNR, Natl Inst Opt, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Florence, Dept Phys & Astron, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Ist Nazl Ric Metrol INRiM, Str Cacce 91, I-10135 Turin, Italy; Ctr Colloids & Interface Sci, CSGI, Via Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Dept Biochem Expt & Clin Mario Serio, Viale Morgagni 50, I-50134 Florence, Italy.

Abstract: The ability to control cell alignment represents a fundamental requirement toward the production of tissue in vitro but also to create biohybrid materials presenting the functional properties of human organs. However, cell cultures on standard commercial supports do not provide a selective control on the cell organization morphology, and different techniques, such as the use of patterned or stimulated substrates, are developed to induce cellular alignment. In this work, a new approach toward in vitro muscular tissue morphogenesis is presented exploiting liquid crystalline networks. By using smooth polymeric films with planar homogeneous alignment, a certain degree of cellular order is observed in myoblast cultures with direction of higher cell alignment corresponding to the nematic director. The molecular organization inside the polymer determines such effects since no cell organization is observed using homeotropic or isotropic samples. These findings represent the first example of cellular alignment induced by the interaction with a nematic polymeric scaffold, setting the stage for new applications of liquid crystal polymers as active matter to control tissue growth.

Journal/Review: ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS

Volume: 8 (3)      Pages from: 1801489-1  to: 1801489-10

More Information: CSGI is acknowledged for financially supporting the physical-chemical characterization activities. The research leading to these results has also received funding from Laserlab-EuropeEU-H2020 654148 and from Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze (Grant No. 2015/0781), and Fondazione Telethon (Grant No. GGP16191).
KeyWords: biomaterials; cell alignment; liquid crystalline alignments; liquid crystalline network; muscular tissue engineering
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201801489

Citations: 44
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