The mechanical properties of polyelectrolyte multilayer thin films, prepared from poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and a benzophenone grafted poly(acrylic acid) (PAABp) were tuned by photocrosslinking. The modulus of the film increased when exposed to UV irradiation. As photocrosslinking provides control over the regions of crosslinking, a neutral density filter with optical density that varied from 0.04 to 2 was employed to prepare a film with a gradient in elasticity. This was achieved by covering the film with the filter during irradiation. Nano-indentation by atomic force microscopy was used to measure the elasticity along the film. A7r5 cells (rat aortic smooth muscle cells) were plated on the gradient and their behavior was followed using optical microscope. A7r5 cells adhered and spread more on the stiffer end of the gradient, expressing high degree of actin and stress fibers, a characteristic of their contractile phenotype.

Coatings from polyelectrolytes: Tuning surface properties for controlled cell fate

244th National Meeting (2012)

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