Novel patterned cell coculture utilizing thermally responsive grafted polymer surfaces

Here we demonstrate a novel cell coculture method without any apparent limi tation in cell-type combinations that exploits thermally responsive polymer -grafted patterns to alter cell-cell and cell-surface interactions. Thermal ly responsive acrylamide polymer is first covalently patterned onto culture surfaces by masked electron beam irradiation. One cell. type is then cultu red to confluency at 37 degreesC. Reducing cell culture temperature below 3 2 degreesC selectively swells temperature sensitive polymer-grafted domains , detacking adherent cells only from these grafted patterns. Another cell t ype is then seeded over the same surface at 37 degreesC. These subsequently seeded cells adhere only to the now-exposed polymer-grafted domains. Initi ally seeded cells remaining adherent on nonpatterned surfaces and cells add ed in the second seeding are then cocultured at 37 degreesC in well-ordered patterns. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.