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Thermotropic Liquid Crystals as Substrates for Imaging the Reorganization of Matrigel by Human Embryonic Stem Cells†

  1. N. A. Lockwood1,
  2. J. C. Mohr1,
  3. L. Ji1,
  4. C. J. Murphy2,
  5. S. P. Palecek1,
  6. J. J. de Pablo1,
  7. N. L. Abbott1

Article first published online: 16 FEB 2006

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200500768

Issue

Advanced Functional Materials

Advanced Functional Materials

Volume 16, Issue 5, pages 618–624, March, 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lockwood, N. A., Mohr, J. C., Ji, L., Murphy, C. J., Palecek, S. P., de Pablo, J. J. and Abbott, N. L. (2006), Thermotropic Liquid Crystals as Substrates for Imaging the Reorganization of Matrigel by Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Adv. Funct. Mater., 16: 618–624. doi: 10.1002/adfm.200500768

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA,

  1. †

    This work was supported by an MRSEC grant (DMR 0520521 and 0079983).

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 MAR 2006
  2. Article first published online: 16 FEB 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 29 NOV 2005
  4. Manuscript Received: 14 OCT 2005

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Keywords:

  • Cell cultures;
  • Liquid crystals

Abstract

We have investigated the culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) on interfaces of the thermotropic liquid crystal, TL205, that are decorated with thin films of the extracellular matrix, Matrigel. hESCs seeded at the liquid-crystal/Matrigel interface survive for weeks, and cell colonies grow over this time. The cells show levels of differentiation comparable to that observed for cells on Matrigel-coated glass controls. Polarized and fluorescence microscopy reveal that the orientational order of the liquid crystal is coupled to the presence and organization of Matrigel. This enables straightforward imaging of the reorganization of Matrigel by the hESCs through changes in the appearance of the liquid crystal when observed using polarized light microscopy. The coupling between Matrigel and TL205 thus provides a simple tool for monitoring the reorganization of the Matrigel film over time. Our results suggest new approaches to the culture of cells and measurements of cell–extracellular-matrix interactions.

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