Plasma lithography - thin-film patterning of polymers by RF plasma polymerization II: Study of differential binding using adsorption probes

• Published in: Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer ed. 2001-01, Vol.12 (7), p.739-753
• Main Authors: Goessl, Andreas, Golledge, Stephen L., Hoffman, Allan S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacokinetics; Biomedical Engineering; Cattle; Ethylene Glycols; Fluorocarbon Polymers - chemistry; Fluorocarbon Polymers - pharmacokinetics; Histamine - chemistry; Histamine - metabolism; Histamine - pharmacokinetics; HYDROPHOBIC ANCHORING; MICROPATTERNING; Microscopy, Atomic Force; PEPTIDE AMPHIPHILE; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polyethylene Glycols - metabolism; Polyethylene Glycols - pharmacokinetics; PROTEIN ADSORPTION; Protein Binding; Serum Albumin, Bovine - chemistry; Serum Albumin, Bovine - metabolism; Serum Albumin, Bovine - pharmacokinetics; SIMS IMAGING; Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion; Spectrum Analysis; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 0920-5063; 1568-5624
• DOI: 10.1163/156856201750411639

In this study we present methods to physico-chemically modify micropatterned cell culture substrates that were manufactured using plasma lithography to incorporate affinity structures for specific cell binding. The surfaces consist of a pattern of a fluorocarbon plasma polymer with feature sizes between 5 and 100 μm on a background of a non-fouling tetraglyme (tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether) plasma polymer. The tetraglyme polymer blocks virtually all non-specific binding of proteins, and it is non-adhesive for a fluorocarbon-polyethylene glycol (FC-PEG)surfactant designed to act as a 'hydrophobic anchor' for peptides. The surfactant shows a strong affinity for the fluorocarbon polymer pattern, thus enabling us to form a pattern of the surfactant-conjugated peptide. Toverify this, we have synthesized a conjugate between histamine (as a model for a more complex peptide) and a commercially available FC-PEG surfactant. Disuccinimidyl carbonate was used to activate the terminal-OH group of the polyethylene glycol headgroup for the reaction with the aminecontaining molecule. Affinity pattern formation can easily be achieved by immersion of the patterned substrates in a solution of the peptide-surfactant conjugate. Time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy in the imaging mode was used to verify that the surfactant localizes on the pattern, while the background remains bare. A model protein, bovine serum albumin, showed the same behavior. This suggests that these surfaces can be used for the formation of patterns of cell-adhesive proteins. These substrates will be used to investigate the influence of the cell size and shape of vascular smooth muscle cells on their physiology.