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: Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3-13, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy; European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, via Nello Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy; National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, via Nello Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Via Sansone, 1, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica INRiM, Strada delle Cacce, 91, Turin, 10135, Italy; CSGI, Center for Colloids and Interface Science, via della Lastruccia, 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy; Department of Biochemical, Experimental and Clinical “Mario Serio”, Viale Morgagni 50, Firenze, 50134, 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: 41
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