Name: synthesis of biocompatible liquid crystal elastomer foams as cell scaffolds for 3d spatial cell cultures
Uploaded: 2017-04-11T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Kent State University (collaborative research grant and support for the Regenerative Medicine Initiative at Kent State &#8722; ReMedIKS) for the financial support of this project.

NOTE: The following steps for the 3D LCE foam-like preparation using the 3-arm star block copolymer are shown in Figure 1. For nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characterization, the spectra are recorded in deuterated chloroform (CDCl3) at room temperature on a Bruker DMX 400-MHz instrument and internally referenced residual peaks at 7.26. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra are recorded using a Bruker Vector 33 FT-IR spectrometer using attenuated total reflectance mode. ...

<ol>
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Liquid crystalline elastomers have recently been studied as biocompatible cell scaffolds due to their stimuli responsiveness. They have been proven to be ideal platforms as cell scaffolds. However, an important factor to keep in mind when preparing and designing a new LCE scaffold is porosity. The incorporation of leachable solids23 or gases does not always result in homogeneous porosity or fully interconnected pores. The use of a metal template that can be etched out not only offers the opportuni...

There are several examples of biological and biocompatible synthetic materials designed for application in cell studies and for tissue regeneration aiming at cell attachment and proliferation1,2,3,4,5. There have been a few examples of biocompatible materials, known as liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), that could respond to external stimuli with anisotropic molecular ordering6,7. LCEs are stimuli-responsive materials that combine the mechanical and elastic properties of elastomers with the optical functionality and molecular ordering of liquid crystals8,9. LCEs can experience changes in shape, mechanical deformation, elastic behavior, and optical properties in response to external stimuli (i.e., heat, stress, light, etc.)10,11,12,13,14,15,16. Earlier studies have shown that liquid crystals (LCs) can sense the growth and orientation of cells4,17. It is possible then to assume that LCEs may be suitable for biologically and medically relevant applications, including cell scaffolding and alignment. We have previously reported the preparation of smectic biocompatible, biodegradable, cast-molded, and thin LCEs films featuring a &#34;Swiss-cheese type&#34; porous morphology6,18. We also prepared nematic biocompatible LCEs with globular morphology as scaffolds for cell growth19,20. Our work was aimed at tuning the mechanical properties of the materials to match those of the tissue of interest21. Also, these studies focus on understanding elastomer-cell interactions, as well as cellular response when the elastomers are subject to external stimuli.
The main challenges were in part to tailor the porosity of the LCEs to allow for cell attachment and permeation through the elastomer matrix and for better mass transport. The porosity of these thin films6 allowed for cell permeation through the bulk of the matrix, but not all pores were fully interconnected or had a more regular (homogeneous) pore size. We then reported on biocompatible nematic LCE elastomers with globular morphologies. These nematic elastomers allowed for the attachment and proliferation of cells, but the pore size ranged only from 10-30 &#181;m, which prevented or limited the use of these elastomers with a wider variety of cell lines19,20.
Previous work by Kung et al. relating to the formation of graphene foams using a &#34;sacrificial&#34; metal template showed that the obtained graphene foam had a very regular porous morphology dictated by the chosen metal template22. This methodology offers full control of porosity and pore size. At the same time, the malleability and flexibility of the metal template allow for the formation of different template shapes prior to foam preparation. Other techniques, such as material leaching23, gas templating24, or electro-spun fibers25,26 also offer the potential for the preparation of porous materials, but they are more time consuming and, in some cases, the pore size is limited to only a few micrometers. Foam-like 3D LCEs prepared using metal templates allow for a higher cell load; an improved proliferation rate; co-culturing; and, last but not least, better mass transport management (i.e., nutrients, gases, and waste) to ensure full tissue development27. Foam-like 3D LCEs also appear to improve cell alignment; this is most likely in relation to the LC pendants sensing cell growth and cell orientation. The presence of LC moieties within the LCE appears to enhance cell alignment with respect to cell location within the LCE scaffold. Cells align within the struts of the LCE, while no clear orientation is observed where the struts join together (junctions)27.
Overall, our LCE cell scaffold platform as a cell support medium offers opportunities to tune the elastomer morphology and elastic properties and to specifically direct the alignment of (individual) cell types to create an ordered, spatial arrangements of cells similar to living systems. Apart from providing a scaffold capable of sustaining and directing long-term cellular growth and proliferation, LCEs also allow for dynamic experiments, where cell orientation and interactions may be modified on the fly.

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	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:291px;">1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td style="width:132px;">L16606</td>
			<td style="width:153px;">Silanizing agent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">2-bis(4-hydroxy-cyclohexyl)propane</td>
			<td>TCI</td>
			<td><a href="http://www.tcichemicals.com/eshop/en/us/commodity/B0928/">B0928</a></td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">2-chlorohexanone&#160;</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>A18613</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">2-heptanone&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>W254401</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">2-propanol&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>278475</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">3-chloroperbenzoic acid, m-CPBA</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>273031</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">4-dimethylaminopyridine</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>A13016</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">4&#39;,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, DAPI&#160;</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>D1306</td>
			<td>Nuclear Stain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">5-hexynoic acid&#160;</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>B25132-06</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Acetic acid</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>36289</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Acetone</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>34850</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Alcohol 200 proof ACS Grade&#160;</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>71001-866</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Benzene</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>AA33290</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">&#949;-caprolactone&#160;</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>A10299-0E</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Chloroform</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>BDH1109</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cholesterol</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>C8503</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Chromium(VI) oxide</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>232653</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Copper (I) iodide</td>
			<td>Strem Chemicals</td>
			<td>100211-060</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">D,L-Lactide&#160;</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>L09026</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Dichloromethane</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>320269</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Diethyl ether&#160;</td>
			<td>Emd Millipore</td>
			<td>EX0190</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">N,N-Dimethylformamide</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>270547</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Dulbecco&#8217;s modified Eagle medium, DEME&#160;</td>
			<td>CORNING Cellgo</td>
			<td>10-013</td>
			<td>Cell Media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ethanol</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>33361</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Formaldehyde&#160;</td>
			<td>SIGMA Life Science</td>
			<td>F8775</td>
			<td>Fixative</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Fetal bovine serum, FBS&#160;</td>
			<td>HyClone</td>
			<td>SH30071.01</td>
			<td>Media Component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Filter paper, Grade 415, qualitative, crepe</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>28320</td>
			<td>Filtration</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glycerol</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>G5516</td>
			<td>Central node (3-arm)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Hexamethylene diisocyanate, HDI</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>52649</td>
			<td>Crosslinker</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Iron(III) chloride&#160;</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>12357</td>
			<td>Etching agent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Isopropyl alcohol</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>BDH1133</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Methanol</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>L13255</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">N,N&#39;-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide</td>
			<td>Aldrich</td>
			<td>D80002</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">N,N-Dimethylformamide</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>270547</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Nickel metal template</td>
			<td>American Elements</td>
			<td>Ni-860</td>
			<td>Foam template</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Neuroblastomas cells (SH-SY5Y)</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>CRL-2266</td>
			<td>Cell line</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Penicillin streptomycin&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo SCIENTIFIC</td>
			<td>15140122</td>
			<td>Antibiotics</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Polyethylene glycol 2000, PEG</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>B22181</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium azide&#160;</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>97064-646</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium bicarbonate</td>
			<td>AMRESCO</td>
			<td>865</td>
			<td>Drying salt</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium chloride</td>
			<td>BDH</td>
			<td>BDH9286</td>
			<td>Drying salt</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S-374</td>
			<td>Drying salt</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>S9638</td>
			<td>Drying salt</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium sulfate</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>239313</td>
			<td>Drying salt</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tetrahydrofuran</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>41819</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Thiosulfate de sodium</td>
			<td>AMRESCO</td>
			<td>393</td>
			<td>Drying salt</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate</td>
			<td>Aldrich</td>
			<td>S3252</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Toluene&#160;</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>22903</td>
			<td>Solvent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Triethylamine</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>471283</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Trypsin&#160;</td>
			<td>HyClone</td>
			<td>SH30042.01</td>
			<td>Cell Detachment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Olympus FV1000</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

synthesis of biocompatible liquid crystal elastomer foams as cell scaffolds for 3d spatial cell cultures

Here, we present a step-by-step preparation of a 3D, biodegradable, foam-like cell scaffold. These scaffolds were prepared by cross-linking star block co-polymers featuring cholesterol units as side-chain pendant groups, resulting in smectic-A (SmA) liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). Foam-like scaffolds, prepared using metal templates, feature interconnected microchannels, making them suitable as 3D cell culture scaffolds. The combined properties of the regular structure of the metal foam and of the elastomer result in a 3D cell scaffold that promotes not only higher cell proliferation compared to conventional porous templated films, but also better management of mass transport (i.e., nutrients, gases, waste, etc.). The nature of the metal template allows for the easy manipulation of foam shapes (i.e., rolls or films) and for the preparation of scaffolds of different pore sizes for different cell studies while preserving the interconnected porous nature of the template. The etching process does not affect the chemistry of the elastomers, preserving their biocompatible and biodegradable nature. We show that these smectic LCEs, when grown for extensive time periods, enable the study of clinically relevant and complex tissue constructs while promoting the growth and proliferation of cells.

This report shows the preparation method of a porous 3D LCE as a scaffold for cell culture using a nickel metal template. The obtained 3D LCE demonstrates a complex interconnected channel network that allows for easy cell infiltration, as well as more suitable mass transport27. It was found that cells are able to fully penetrate the interconnected channel network and are also able to align within the LCE. Here, a metal nickel foam (99% Ni, density of 860 g/cm2...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures at JoVE.com

Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures

This study presents a methodology to prepare 3D, biodegradable, foam-like cell scaffolds based on biocompatible side-chain liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). Confocal microscopy experiments show that foam-like LCEs allow for cell attachment, proliferation, and the spontaneous alignment of C2C12s myoblasts.

Here, we present a step-by-step preparation of a 3D, biodegradable, foam-like cell scaffold. These scaffolds were prepared by cross-linking star block ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

Alginate Microcapsule as a 3D Platform for Propagation and Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC) to Different Lineages

Alginate Microcapsule as a 3D Platform for Propagation and Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells hESC to Different Lineages

Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are emerging as an attractive alternative source for cell replacement therapy since they can be expanded in culture ...

Preparation of 3D Fibrin Scaffolds for Stem Cell Culture Applications

Stem cells are found in naturally occurring 3D microenvironments in vivo, which are often referred to as the stem cell niche 1. Culturing stem cells ...

Self-reporting Scaffolds for 3-Dimensional Cell Culture

Culturing cells in 3D on appropriate scaffolds is thought to better mimic the in vivo microenvironment and increase cell-cell interactions. The resulting ...

Fabrication of Mechanically Tunable and Bioactive Metal Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications

Biometal systems have been widely used for biomedical applications, in particular, as load-bearing materials. However, major challenges are high stiffness ...

Alternating Magnetic Field-Responsive Hybrid Gelatin Microgels for Controlled Drug Release

Magnetically-responsive nano/micro-engineered biomaterials that enable a tightly controlled, on-demand drug delivery have been developed as new types of ...

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

LCEs are shape-responsive materials with fully reversible shape change and potential applications in medicine, tissue engineering, artificial muscles, and ...

Micropatterning and Assembly of 3D Microvessels

In vitro platforms to study endothelial cells and vascular biology are largely limited to 2D endothelial cell culture, flow chambers with polymer or glass ...

Fabrication of Extracellular Matrix-derived Foams and Microcarriers as Tissue-specific Cell Culture and Delivery Platforms

Cell function is mediated by interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM), which has complex tissue-specific composition and architecture. The focus ...

A Microcontroller Operated Device for the Generation of Liquid Extracts from Conventional Cigarette Smoke and Electronic Cigarette Aerosol

Electronic cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among middle and high schoolers and are the most popular alternative tobacco product among ...

3D Analysis of Multi-cellular Responses to Chemoattractant Gradients

Various limitations of 2D cell culture systems have sparked interest in 3D cell culture and analysis platforms, which would better mimic the spatial and ...