The ability to affect a wide range of biophysical properties through the use of light has led to the development of dynamic cell instructive materials. Using photoresponsive materials such as azopolymers, smart systems that use external, minimally damaging, light irradiation can be used to trigger specific surface morpho-physical properties in the presence of living cells. The interaction of light with an azopolymer film induces a mass migration phenomenon, allowing a variety of topographic patterns to be embossed on the polymeric film. Photoisomerization induces conformational changes at the molecular and macroscopic scale, resulting in light-induced variations of substrate morphological, physical, and mechanical properties. In this review, we discuss the photoactuation of azopolymeric interfaces to provide guidelines for the engineering and design of azopolymer films. Laser micropatterning for the modulation of azopolymer surfaces is examined as a way to diversify the capabilities of these polymers in cellular systems. Mass migration effects induced by azopolymer switching provides a foundation for performing a broad range of cellular manipulation techniques. Applications of azopolymers are explored in the context of dynamic culture systems, gaining insight into the complex processes involved in dynamic cell-material interactions. The review highlights azopolymers as a candidate for various applications in cellular control, including cell alignment, migration, gene expression, and others. Recent advances have underlined the importance of these systems in applications regarding three-dimensional cell culture and stem cell morphology. Azopolymers can be used not only to manipulate cells but also to probe for mechanistic studies of cellular crosstalk in response to chemical and mechanical stimuli.
Skip Nav Destination
Dynamic azopolymeric interfaces for photoactive cell instruction
Article navigation
December 2020
Review Article|
November 16 2020
Dynamic azopolymeric interfaces for photoactive cell instruction
Selene De Martino
;
Selene De Martino
1
Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare, IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci, 53, 80125, Napoli, Italy
2
Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, DICMAPI, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
, Piazzale Tecchio, 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Paolo Antonio Netti
Paolo Antonio Netti
a)
1
Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare, IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci, 53, 80125, Napoli, Italy
2
Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, DICMAPI, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
, Piazzale Tecchio, 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: nettipa@unina.it
Search for other works by this author on:
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: nettipa@unina.it
Biophysics Rev. 1, 011302 (2020)
Article history
Received:
August 18 2020
Accepted:
October 26 2020
Citation
Selene De Martino, Paolo Antonio Netti; Dynamic azopolymeric interfaces for photoactive cell instruction. Biophysics Rev. 1 December 2020; 1 (1): 011302. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0025175
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign In
You could not be signed in. Please check your credentials and make sure you have an active account and try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionPay-Per-View Access
$40.00