Biomolecularly and mechanically instructive materials for guiding cell-substrate interactions

Techniques that enable the creation of instructive biomaterials have the potential to advance our understanding and ability to guide cell fate and function. Benzophenone (BP) photolithography is uniquely suited to generating chemically and mechanically tailored materials because of its molecularly general and spatially modulated characteristics. Here, we describe the application of this methodology to investigate two important biological processes in the context of mechanical and biochemical cues. First, we generated gradients of cellular adhesion molecules that allowed us to understand the mechanism by which bromelain affects cell rolling during the early steps of inflammation. The latter part of this work utilized BP-mediated immobilization on two substrates, collagen-glycosaminoglycan membranes and polyacrylamide hydrogels, to evaluate stem cell diffferentiation. In summary, we have developed a photoreactive platform that provides the capability to control biomolecule density separately from mechanical properties. This strategy can be used on a variety of biorelevant substrates to replicate the properties of the native extracellular matrix. Our results shed light on the combinatorial influence of multiple cues and have the potential to identify key parameters to specifically alter cell response with a view towards tissue regeneration.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Banks, Jessica M

Contributors dc:contributor

• Bailey, Ryan C.
• Harley, Brendan A.
• Mitchell, Douglas A.
• Murphy, Catherine J.

• Stem cell differentiation
• Biomaterials
• Hydrogels
• Collagen scaffolds
• Leukocyte rolling
• Photolithography
• Benzophenone

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Jessica Madeline Banks

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/87987

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/87987