Materials to Control and Measure Cell Function
Résumé
After a general description of how cellular and bacterial functions can be controlled by materials, this chapter reviews on the role of materials used with BioMEMs or microsystems that also have as the objective control of cellular and bacterial function. Specifically, the modifications of materials used to develop innovative cell culture systems for controlling cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as for achieving cocultures or three-dimensional cultures are described. Attention also focusses on the possibility to control cell migration and contact guidance by modifying surface topography and surface chemistry. In an analogous fashion, we also describe the microsystems involving bacteria–material interactions or material modifications for achieving, improving, or studying microbial culture, docking, separation, or migration. The interest in materials with different stiffnesses for probing cell mechanics as well as for evaluating the forces generated by cells or their capacity to respond to mechanical stimuli are illustrated. Finally, systems using cell properties to develop pumps, microactuators, or microrobots are described.