The aim of my thesis is to produce and characterize a new class of cell-instructive materials able to change their topographic features in a dynamic manner in order to reproduce the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. In vivo, cells are able to integrate and react to several topographic signals, which continuously change their features in time. For this reason, “light-responsive” material can be used to fabricate dynamic-switchable supports for cell culture. In detail, azobenzene-containing polymers exhibit a unique and remarkable surface mass transport phenomenon on a micrometer and sub-micrometer length scale when the film is irradiated with a focused light at a proper wavelength. The single laser beam of confocal microscope set-up enables a precise spatial and temporal control of the mass migration process by guiding the laser beam switching and position. The polarized light and the proper wavelength provokes the isomerization of the azobenzene molecules and the consequent inscription of topographic features on the azopolymer film. In this thesis, we evaluated the cell response to dynamic topographic features embossed on poly Disperse Red 1 methacrylate-containing films (pDR1m) films. A real-time photopatterning of azofilms was conducted, revealing that cells could sense dynamic topographic changes and spontaneously adapted to a new environment by remodeling their cytoskeleton and shape. Furthermore, the real-time modulation of topographies embossed on cell-populated azofilms revealed a variation of Young modulus of cells and a remodeling focal adhesions (FAs). This innovative technique allowed, for the first time, the evaluation of cell functions in response to the spatio-temporal manipulation of topographic cues and taken together, these results underline the possibility to use azobenzene-based platforms as dynamic cell-instructive materials.

Dynamic topographic pattern on photoswitchable azobenzene-substrates to study cell behavior.

2017

Abstract

The aim of my thesis is to produce and characterize a new class of cell-instructive materials able to change their topographic features in a dynamic manner in order to reproduce the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. In vivo, cells are able to integrate and react to several topographic signals, which continuously change their features in time. For this reason, “light-responsive” material can be used to fabricate dynamic-switchable supports for cell culture. In detail, azobenzene-containing polymers exhibit a unique and remarkable surface mass transport phenomenon on a micrometer and sub-micrometer length scale when the film is irradiated with a focused light at a proper wavelength. The single laser beam of confocal microscope set-up enables a precise spatial and temporal control of the mass migration process by guiding the laser beam switching and position. The polarized light and the proper wavelength provokes the isomerization of the azobenzene molecules and the consequent inscription of topographic features on the azopolymer film. In this thesis, we evaluated the cell response to dynamic topographic features embossed on poly Disperse Red 1 methacrylate-containing films (pDR1m) films. A real-time photopatterning of azofilms was conducted, revealing that cells could sense dynamic topographic changes and spontaneously adapted to a new environment by remodeling their cytoskeleton and shape. Furthermore, the real-time modulation of topographies embossed on cell-populated azofilms revealed a variation of Young modulus of cells and a remodeling focal adhesions (FAs). This innovative technique allowed, for the first time, the evaluation of cell functions in response to the spatio-temporal manipulation of topographic cues and taken together, these results underline the possibility to use azobenzene-based platforms as dynamic cell-instructive materials.
10-dic-2017
Italiano
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14242/142589
Il codice NBN di questa tesi è URN:NBN:IT:UNINA-142589