The effect of molecular mobility of supramolecular polymer surfaces on fibroblast adhesion

Abstract

The effect of hydrated molecular mobility of polymer surfaces on cell adhesion behavior was investigated. ABA-type block copolymers composed of polyrotaxane (PRX) and hydrophobic anchoring terminal segments were synthesized as a platform of molecularly mobile surfaces. The result of QCM-D measurement in water revealed that the molecularly mobile PRX block copolymer surfaces were higher in hydrated molecular mobility than the corresponding random copolymer surfaces with similar content of hydrophobic methoxy groups. The number of adhering fibroblasts depended on the amount of fibronectin adsorbed from serum but was independent of the molecular mobility. However, the morphology of the adhering fibroblasts was strongly dependent on the extent of molecular mobility in water. These results indicate that molecular mobility on polymer surfaces is one of the significant considerations for regulating cellular responses.