Smart biomaterials
Final Report Abstract
A prerequisite for successful integration of implanted substrates in living organisms is the engineering of application-specific biointerfaces that mimic the dynamic character of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Such substrates should allow on-demand regulation of the properties of the cellular microenvironment over time and space and, consequently, of the cell-biomaterial interactions and concomitant cell responses. This project has addressed this question by engineering photo-triggerable materials to dynamically present and/or release bioadhesive motifs via the use of UV-labile caged ligands. The UV-triggerable caged bioadhesive ligands have allowed us to precisely control cell-material interactions in vitro and in vivo and to investigate the effects of spatiotemporal adhesion in cell processes. In particular, we have • synthesized surfaces presenting caged RGD peptides that are activated or inactivated via exposure to UV light to spatiotemporally modulate cell adhesion. • Analyzed the role of temporal ligand presentation on cell proliferation and differentiation on bioadhesive surfaces • Engineered hydrogels presenting caged RGD peptides that exhibit spatiotemporal control of in vivo cell adhesion • Applied UV-triggerable bioadhesive ligands to study cell migration issues by developing a novel photoactivatable Wound Healing Assay. All these tasks have been accomplished via a close and solid cooperation between the groups of A. del Campo (MPIP, Mainz) and A. García (GeorgiaTech, USA) including: (i) exchange of samples, knowledge and experimental experience, (ii) short and long term visits of german scientists to USA and viceversa, (iii) cosupervision of PhD students, (iv) joint publications in high impact factor journals.
Publications
- Photoactivatable caged cyclic RGD peptide for triggering integrin binding and cell adhesion. ChemBioChem 2011, 12(17), 2623-2629
M. Wirkner, S. Weis, V. San Miguel, M. Álvarez, R. A. Gropeanu, M. Salierno, A., R.E. Unger, C.J. Kirkpatrick, A. del Campo
- Triggered Cell Release from Materials using Bioadhesive Photocleavable Linkers. Adv. Mater. 2011, 23(34), 3907–3910
M. Wirkner, J. M. Alonso, V. Maus, M. Salierno, T. T. Lee, A. J. García, A. del Campo
- Ethyl substituted coumarin-4-yl derivatives as photoremovable protecting groups for amino acids with improved stability for SPPS. J. Photochem. Photobiol. A: Chemistry 2012, 241(1), 52-57
S. Weis, Z. Shafiq, R. Gropeanu, A. del Campo
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2012.05.014)
