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

Marianne E. Prévôt; Senay Ustunel; Leah E. Bergquist; Richard Cukelj; Yunxiang Gao; Taizo Mori; Lindsay Pauline; Robert J. Clements; Elda Hegmann

doi:10.3791/55452

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Method Article

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

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DOI:

10.3791/55452

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April 11th, 2017

Marianne E. Prévôt¹ , Senay Ustunel¹ , Leah E. Bergquist² , Richard Cukelj³ , Yunxiang Gao¹ , Taizo Mori¹ , Lindsay Pauline³ , Robert J. Clements³ , Elda Hegmann¹

¹Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, ²Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, ³Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University

Summary

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.

Abstract

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.

Introduction

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 ....