Cell-material interactions nonspecific

A scaffold material can provide cues that will direct and control the cell-matrix interactions to promote and regulate tissue regeneration. Biochemical signals such as matrix proteins, adhesive peptides, and growth factors can be incorporated into a material by nonspecific adsorption or through covalent immobilization. Since many mammalian cells require adhesion for cell viability, these molecules can provide the essential cues for cell attachment. 

The first two approaches address the problem of nonspecific adsorption but fail to address the coexisting need to promote the favorable cell surface interactions required to encourage natural healing and tissue repair processes. Alternatively, the last method represents a tactic that addresses both issues by creating materials that manage biological interactions while resisting nonspecific protein adsorption. 

Another attractive application of polymer brushes is directed toward a biointerface to tune the interaction of solid surfaces with biologically important materials such as proteins and biological cells. For example, it is important to prevent surface adsorption of proteins through nonspecific interactions, because the adsorbed protein often triggers a bio-fouling, e.g., the deposition of biological cells, bacteria and so on. In an effort to understand the process of protein adsorption, the interaction between proteins and brush surfaces has been modeled like the interaction with particles, the interaction with proteins is simplified into three generic modes. One is the primary adsorption. 

The nonadsorptive nature of these materials allows for their modification in order to include specified biological signals. Cells will not adhere to hydrogels without chemical or biological modification of the material. While it may seem that lack of cell adhesion to materials intended for tissue engineering applications would not be a desirable property, this is not necessarily the case. This anti-adhesive property is beneficial, as it allows precise, defined modifications of the material to achieve a specific cellular response without interference by nonspecific cell or protein interactions. 

Adsorption of proteins from solution onto synthetic materials is a key factor in the response of a living body to artificial implanted materials and devices. Adsorbed proteins mediate cell attachment and spreading through specific peptide sequence-integrin receptor interactions and may therefore favorably influence the mechanical stability of the subsequently developed tissue—implant interface. However, the uncontrolled nonspecific adsorption of proteins from the extracellular matrix results in interfaces with many types of proteins in different conformations—a situation that is believed to cause deleterious reactions of the body, such as foreign-body response and fibrous encapsulation. ... 

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