Princeton University

Kelly Lim

Jeffrey J Schwartz

Joshua Spechler

Jeffrey Chen

Romain Fardel

A method is disclosed for coating and patterning hydrogels in order to modify surface properties. The method exploits the water content of the hydrogel and the hydrophobicity of the reaction solvent to create a thin oxide adhesion layer on the hydrogel surface. This oxide adhesion layer enables rapid transformation of the hydrophilic, cell non-adhesive hydrogel into either a highly hydrophobic or a cell-adhesive hydrogel by reaction with an alkylphosphonic acid or an &#x3b1;,&#x3c9;-diphosphonoalkane, respectively. Also disclosed are coated, patterned hydrogels and constructs comprising the coated, patterned hydrogels.

Ultrathin interfacial layer on a hydrogel to direct its surface properties and cell adhesion

A construct that supports cell attachment and alignment including a substrate that is incompatible with photolithography conditions, containing a physical pattern in at least part of one surface, the physical pattern optionally bearing a coating of a metal alkoxide, oxide or mixed oxide-alkoxide thereon and a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Phosphonate (SAMP) covalently attached thereto, which phosphonate contains functionality adapted for cell binding. The construct optionally also contains cells attached thereto. Also disclosed are methods of preparing such a construct.

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Princeton, NJ, United States of America

Kelly Lim