Stimuli-responsive Sol-Gel Transition Polymers with Dynamic Crosslinks for Cell Culture

摘要

A novel Tetra-PEG with biotin moieties and BMP with both biotin and maleimide moieties were synthesized as biomolecularly stimuli-responsive sol-gel transition polymers. A buffer solution with biotinylated Tetra-PEG underwent the phase transition to a gel state upon the addition of free biotin. A mixed solution with BMP and avidin was transformed to a gel state by UV exposure. However, the biotin addition resulted in the dissociation of the avidin/biotinylated Tetra-PEG and BMP-avidin complex gels to a sol state. No proliferation and spreading of cell were observed within the BMP-avidin complex gel. However, after the dissociation of the gel to a sol state by biotin addition, we observed cell proliferation and spreading in the sol. Such sol-gel transition polymers are useful tools in regulating cells.