Skip to Content
MilliporeSigma
  • Bio/non-bio interfaces: a straightforward method for obtaining long term PDMS/muscle cell biohybrid constructs.

Bio/non-bio interfaces: a straightforward method for obtaining long term PDMS/muscle cell biohybrid constructs.

Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces (2013-02-12)
Giada Graziana Genchi, Gianni Ciofani, Ioannis Liakos, Leonardo Ricotti, Luca Ceseracciu, Athanassia Athanassiou, Barbara Mazzolai, Arianna Menciassi, Virgilio Mattoli
ABSTRACT

Stable surface modifications of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are of crucial importance for the exploitation of the versatile physical properties of silicone in many biological applications. Surface hydrophobic recovery in fact poses severe time limitations to the observation of biological events and, in particular, to cell culturing. A novel method of stable modification of PDMS surface chemistry was therefore elaborated, relying on the use of genipin as a natural low-toxicity cross-linker, and involving free amine moieties. Its effectiveness to long-term cultures was studied by preparation of thin PDMS films with different stiffness. After assessment of surface chemistry and substrate stiffness, H9c2 muscle cells were cultured on the modified films, and differentiating myoblasts were observed for a period of four weeks since differentiation induction. A lower PDMS stiffness increased myotube width and supported a higher actin and myosin colocalization within myotubes, suggesting the achievement of myotube functional maturity. These results provide evidence of the effectiveness of the proposed procedures to PDMS surface chemistry modification. Furthermore, modified PDMS membranes prove to be suitable to several long-term studies of cell behaviour in vitro, including muscle cell contractility investigations.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Genipin, ≥98% (HPLC), powder
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 100,000 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 10,000 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 30,000 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 500 cSt (25 °C)
Silicone oil, for melting point and boiling point apparatuses
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, for oil baths (from −50°C to +200°C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 350 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 50 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 1,000 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 100 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 5 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 20 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, viscosity 10 cSt (25 °C)
Sigma-Aldrich
Silicone oil, (Xiameter® PMX-200 fluid), viscosity 60,000 cSt (25 °C)