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2009
Conference Paper
Titel
PEG-based thermo-responsive polymer coatings for the control of cell adhesion
Abstract
In various fields of biotechnology, the control of cell adhesion to culture substrates is an important issue. To avoid or reduce the utilization of digesting enzymes like trypsin for the efficient removal of cells from surfaces, thermoresponsive polymers have been used which mediate cell adhesion at the common culture temperature of 37°C but repel cells upon incubation at reduced temperatures like 25°C. In particular, the thermo-responsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and derivatives thereof have been extensively studied and recently commercialized. We present an alternative solution for the generation of thermo-responsive cell culture surfaces comprising copolymers of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO 2MA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA). These surfaces expose only functional groups, which are based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and therefore can be assumed to be particularly biocompatible. The control of cell adhesion was fou nd to be highly efficient.