A Near-Infrared Mechanically Switchable Elastomeric Film as a Dynamic Cell Culture Substrate

Commercial static cell culture substrates can usually not change their physical properties over time, resulting in a limited representation of the variation in biomechanical cues in vivo. To overcome this limitation, approaches incorporating gold nanoparticles to act as transducers to external stimuli have been employed. In this work, gold nanorods were embedded in an elastomeric matrix and used as photothermal transducers to fabricate biocompatible light-responsive substrates. The nanocomposite films analysed by lock-in thermography and nanoindentation show a homogeneous heat distribution and a greater stiffness when irradiated with NIR light. After irradiation, the initial stiffness values were recovered. In vitro experiments performed during NIR irradiation with NIH-3T3 fibroblasts demonstrated that these films were biocompatible and cells remained viable. Cells cultured on the light stiffened nanocomposite exhibited a greater proliferation rate and stronger focal adhesion clustering, indicating increased cell-surface binding strength.

Automated summary

Commercial static cell culture substrates have limited representation of in vivo biomechanical cues due to their inability to change physical properties over time. Gold nanoparticles have been used as transducers to overcome this limitation. In this study, gold nanorods were embedded in an elastomeric matrix to fabricate biocompatible light-responsive substrates. The analysis of the nanocomposite films showed a homogeneous heat distribution and increased stiffness when irradiated with NIR light. These films were biocompatible and cells remained viable, exhibiting a greater proliferation rate and stronger focal adhesion clustering.