Selective Endothelial Cell Adhesion via Mussel-Inspired Hybrid Microfibrous Scaffold

Endothelialization of the polymer substrate is limited by unspecific cell adhesion. Herein, a biodegradable microfibrous scaffold with a reversibly thermoswitchable property was developed to dynamically regulate endothelial progenitor cell adhesion by exposing or concealing cRGD motif to the surface with a thermosensitive moiety (cRGD-PNIPAM) and antifouling moiety linear polyglycerol (LPG). Owing to a reversible α_vβ₃ integrin–cRGD interaction and ligand presentation, the accelerated endothelial cell adhesion and spreading were achieved. Under the static and dynamic conditions, prestained endothelial cells were quickly attached to the surface at 25 °C via the integrin–cRGD interaction, and the cRGD was the headgroup of the stretched PNIPAM below the LCST of PNIPAM. With the increase of the temperature to 37 °C, a quick detachment of cells from the surface was observed due to the cRGD moiety being shielded by the antifouling LPG layer. As compared to current strategies for endothelialization, for example, loaded drugs or growth factors, such a tunable dynamic system based on “switchable surfaces” may unlock new application in in situ targeted cell recruitment and might become useful in regenerative medicine.