AVS 56th International Symposium & Exhibition
    Biomaterial Interfaces Monday Sessions
       Session BI-MoA

Paper BI-MoA7
Axon Guidance on Patterned Gradients of Extracellular Matrix Proteins

Monday, November 9, 2009, 4:00 pm, Room K

Session: Protein and Cell Interactions at Interfaces I
Presenter: T. Beebe Jr, University of Delaware
Authors: W. Theilacker, University of Delaware
H. Bui, University of Delaware
S. Sullivan, Alcoa Technical Center
L. Capriotti, University of Delaware
D. Willis, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
J. Twiss, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
N. Zander, Army Aberdeen Research Laboratory
Z. Zhang, Excellatron
T. Beebe Jr, University of Delaware
Correspondent: Click to Email
This presentation will focus on axonal extension experiments made possible by recent developments in a general platform for substrate patterning of protein and peptide gradients using covalent attachment schemes, and employing cell- and protein-resistant lanes of PEO-like comb polymer. The platform uses step gradients and continuous gradients in local protein and peptide concentrations from micron to centimeter length scales. Control of the local surface density of proteins and peptides allows cell culture assays involving competition of cells for different extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, propensity of axons to cross from one ECM protein lane into a different ECM protein lane, neuron attachment propensity, axon extension direction and rate, and controlled studies of cell-cell interactions between different cell types. This presentation will address the relationship between the local protein coverage and the “bioactivity” or “bioavailability,” using a variety of surface analytical techniques including XPS, TOF-SIMS and AFM, and optical microscopy techniques including epi- and confocal fluorescence microscopy.