Structured materials for the study of biomolecular and cell-substrate interactions

用于研究生物分子和细胞-基质相互作用的结构材料

• 批准号: 418326-2013
• 负责人: MoranMirabal, Jose
• 金额: $ 1.68万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=660167
• 关键词: Structured; materials; study; biomolecular; cell

Micro- and nanoscale surface properties (e.g., topography, biochemical function) play a critical role in biomolecular and cellular interactions in vivo. The combination of topographical features and spatial distribution of biochemical cues encountered in biological niches drive cells to adhere, proliferate, express certain phenotypes, and differentiate into specific cell lineages. To study relevant biological interactions in vitro, methods are needed to create artificial microenvironments that mimic natural ones through topography (size and periodicity of surface structures) and the spatial distribution of biomaterials. Over the past decade, microfabrication approaches have been developed to create structured materials that convey biological function through topography or patterns of biomaterials. Despite the success of these approaches, key limitations exist that prevent their use in the rapid creation of structured surfaces with tuneable features and in the formation of patterns of biomaterials that cannot tolerate drying (e.g., cells and lipids).**This research program focuses on developing novel methods to create micro- and nanostructured materials for the study of biomolecular and cell-surface interactions and demonstrating the utility of these methods through proof-of-concept applications. Our research will solve critical limitations of current fabrication methods, including (a) the lack of facile methods to fabricate structured surfaces with features tuneable in the micro- to nanometer scale, (b) the inability to deposit biomaterials (i.e. biomolecules and cells) in complex patterns, and (c) the inability to pattern multiple biomaterials that cannot tolerate drying. We anticipate that in the long-term the ability to pattern biomaterials, particularly cells, in complex distributions under aqueous environments will facilitate the study of cell-cell interactions that are critical to cellular function and fate within tissues. Overall, the outcomes of the proposed research will help generate knowledge on biological systems, provide a multidisciplinary environment that offers unique opportunities for training HQP, and will establish a cutting-edge research program.

微米和纳米级表面特性（例如形貌、生化功能）在体内生物分子和细胞相互作用中发挥着关键作用。生物位中遇到的地形特征和生化线索的空间分布相结合，驱动细胞粘附、增殖、表达某些表型，并分化成特定的细胞谱系。为了在体外研究相关的生物相互作用，需要通过地形（表面结构的大小和周期性）和生物材料的空间分布来创建模拟自然微环境的人工微环境。在过去的十年中，微加工方法已经发展到可以制造通过生物材料的形貌或图案来传递生物功能的结构化材料。尽管这些方法取得了成功，但仍存在一些关键限制，阻碍它们用于快速创建具有可调节特征的结构化表面以及形成不能耐受干燥的生物材料图案（例如细胞和脂质）。 **该研究计划的重点是开发新方法来创建微米和纳米结构材料，用于研究生物分子和细胞表面相互作用，并通过概念验证应用展示这些方法的实用性。我们的研究将解决当前制造方法的关键局限性，包括（a）缺乏简便的方法来制造具有微米到纳米尺度可调特征的结构化表面，（b）无法在生物材料（即生物分子和细胞）中沉积复杂的图案，以及（c）无法对不能耐受干燥的多种生物材料进行图案化。我们预计，从长远来看，在水环境下复杂分布的生物材料（特别是细胞）模式化的能力将有助于研究对组织内细胞功能和命运至关重要的细胞间相互作用。总体而言，拟议研究的成果将有助于生成有关生物系统的知识，提供一个多学科环境，为培训 HQP 提供独特的机会，并将建立一个前沿的研究计划。