TY - CHAP A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Sauter, Tilman A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Polymer networks capable of reversible shape-memory-effects T2 - Abstracts of papers : joint conference / The Chemical Institute of Cananda, CIC, American Chemical Society, ACS Y1 - 2014 SN - 0065-7727 VL - 248 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bhuvanesh, Thanga A1 - Machatschek, Rainhard Gabriel A1 - Lysyakova, Liudmila A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Schulz, Burkhard A1 - Ma, Nan A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Collagen type-IV Langmuir and Langmuir-Schafer layers as model biointerfaces to direct stem cell adhesion JF - Biomedical materials : materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine N2 - In biomaterial development, the design of material surfaces that mimic the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) in order to achieve favorable cellular instruction is rather challenging. Collagen-type IV (Col-IV), the major scaffolding component of Basement Membranes (BM), a specialized ECM with multiple biological functions, has the propensity to form networks by self-assembly and supports adhesion of cells such as endothelial cells or stem cells. The preparation of biomimetic Col-IV network-like layers to direct cell responses is difficult. We hypothesize that the morphology of the layer, and especially the density of the available adhesion sites, regulates the cellular adhesion to the layer. The Langmuir monolayer technique allows for preparation of thin layers with precisely controlled packing density at the air-water (A-W) interface. Transferring these layers onto cell culture substrates using the Langmuir-Schafer (LS) technique should therefore provide a pathway for preparation of BM mimicking layers with controlled cell adherence properties. In situ characterization using ellipsometry and polarization modulation-infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy of Col-IV layer during compression at the A-W interface reveal that there is linear increase of surface molecule concentration with negligible orientational changes up to a surface pressure of 25 mN m(-1). Smooth and homogeneous Col-IV network-like layers are successfully transferred by LS method at 15 mN m(-1) onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), which is a common substrate for cell culture. In contrast, the organization of Col-IV on PET prepared by the traditionally employed solution deposition method results in rather inhomogeneous layers with the appearance of aggregates and multilayers. Progressive increase in the number of early adherent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after 24 h by controlling the areal Col-IV density by LS transfer at 10, 15 and 20 mN m(-1) on PET is shown. The LS method offers the possibility to control protein characteristics on biomaterial surfaces such as molecular density and thereby, modulate cell responses. KW - collagen-IV KW - basement membrane KW - Langmuir-Schafer films KW - stem cell adhesion KW - protein KW - ellipsometry Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-605X/aaf464 SN - 1748-6041 SN - 1748-605X VL - 14 IS - 2 PB - Inst. of Physics Publ. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bhuvanesh, Thanga A1 - Saretia, Shivam A1 - Roch, Toralf A1 - Schöne, Anne-Christin A1 - Rottke, Falko O. A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Wang, Weiwei A1 - Ma, Nan A1 - Schulz, Burkhard A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Langmuir-Schaefer films of fibronectin as designed biointerfaces for culturing stem cells JF - Polymers for advanced technologies N2 - Glycoproteins adsorbing on an implant upon contact with body fluids can affect the biological response in vitro and in vivo, depending on the type and conformation of the adsorbed biomacromolecules. However, this process is poorly characterized and so far not controllable. Here, protein monolayers of high molecular cohesion with defined density are transferred onto polymeric substrates by the Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) technique and were compared with solution deposition (SO) method. It is hypothesized that on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a substrate with poor cell adhesion capacity, the fibronectin (FN) layers generated by the LS and SO methods will differ in their organization, subsequently facilitating differential stem cell adhesion behavior. Indeed, atomic force microscopy visualization and immunofluorescence images indicated that organization of the FN layer immobilized on PDMS was uniform and homogeneous. In contrast, FN deposited by SO method was rather heterogeneous with appearance of structures resembling protein aggregates. Human mesenchymal stem cells showed reduced absolute numbers of adherent cells, and the vinculin expression seemed to be higher and more homogenously distributed after seeding on PDMS equipped with FN by LS in comparison with PDMS equipped with FN by SO. These divergent responses could be attributed to differences in the availability of adhesion molecule ligands such as the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide sequence presented at the interface. The LS method allows to control the protein layer characteristics, including the thickness and the protein orientation or conformation, which can be harnessed to direct stem cell responses to defined outcomes, including migration and differentiation. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KW - Langmuir-Schaefer method KW - protein adsorption KW - stem cell adhesion KW - cell culture KW - fibronectin Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.3910 SN - 1042-7147 SN - 1099-1581 VL - 28 SP - 1305 EP - 1311 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Blocki, Anna A1 - Löwenberg, Candy A1 - Jiang, Yi A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Neffe, Axel T. A1 - Jung, Friedrich A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Response of encapsulated cells to a gelatin matrix with varied bulk and microenvironmental elastic properties JF - Polymers for advanced technologies N2 - Gelatin-based hydrogels offer various biochemical cues that support encapsulated cells and are therefore suitable as cell delivery vehicles in regenerative medicine. However, besides the biochemical signals, biomechanical cues are crucial to ensure an optimal support of encapsulated cells. Hence, we aimed to correlate the cellular response of encapsulated cells to macroscopic and microscopic elastic properties of glycidylmethacrylate (GMA)-functionalized gelatin-based hydrogels. To ensure that different observations in cellular behavior could be attributed to differences in elastic properties, an identical concentration as well as degree of functionalization of biopolymers was utilized to form covalently crosslinked hydrogels. Elastic properties were merely altered by varying the average gelatin-chain length. Hydrogels exhibited an increased degree of swelling and a decreased bulk elastic modulus G with prolonged autoclaving of the starting solution. This was accompanied by an increase of hydrogel mesh size and thus by a reduction of crosslinking density. Tougher hydrogels retained the largest amount of cells; however, they also interfered with cell viability. Softer gels contained a lower cell density, but supported cell elongation and viability. Observed differences could be partially attributed to differences in bulk properties, as high crosslinking densities interfere with diffusion and cell spreading and thus can impede cell viability. Interestingly, a microscopic elastic modulus in the range of native soft tissue supported cell viability and elongation best while ensuring a good cell entrapment. In conclusion, gelatin-based hydrogels providing a soft tissue-like microenvironment represent adequate cell delivery vehicles for tissue engineering approaches. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KW - mechanotransduction KW - hydrogel KW - gelatin KW - cell encapsulation KW - matrix elasticity Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.3947 SN - 1042-7147 SN - 1099-1581 VL - 28 SP - 1245 EP - 1251 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Deng, Zijun A1 - Wang, Weiwei A1 - Xua, Xun A1 - Gould, Oliver E. C. A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Ma, Nan A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Polymeric sheet actuators with programmable bioinstructivity JF - PNAS N2 - Stem cells are capable of sensing and processing environmental inputs, converting this information to output a specific cell lineage through signaling cascades. Despite the combinatorial nature of mechanical, thermal, and biochemical signals, these stimuli have typically been decoupled and applied independently, requiring continuous regulation by controlling units. We employ a programmable polymer actuator sheet to autonomously synchronize thermal and mechanical signals applied to mesenchymal stem cells (MSC5). Using a grid on its underside, the shape change of polymer sheet, as well as cell morphology, calcium (Ca2+) influx, and focal adhesion assembly, could be visualized and quantified. This paper gives compelling evidence that the temperature sensing and mechanosensing of MSC5 are interconnected via intracellular Ca2+. Up-regulated Ca2+ levels lead to a remarkable alteration of histone H3K9 acetylation and activation of osteogenic related genes. The interplay of physical, thermal, and biochemical signaling was utilized to accelerate the cell differentiation toward osteogenic lineage. The approach of programmable bioinstructivity provides a fundamental principle for functional biomaterials exhibiting multifaceted stimuli on differentiation programs. Technological impact is expected in the tissue engineering of periosteum for treating bone defects. KW - reversible shape-memory actuator KW - mesenchymal stem cells KW - calcium influx KW - HDAC1 KW - RUNX2 Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910668117 SN - 1091-6490 VL - 117 IS - 4 SP - 1895 EP - 1901 PB - National Academy of Sciences CY - Washington, DC ER - TY - GEN A1 - Deng, Zijun A1 - Wang, Weiwei A1 - Xua, Xun A1 - Gould, Oliver E. C. A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Ma, Nan A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Polymeric sheet actuators with programmable bioinstructivity T2 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Stem cells are capable of sensing and processing environmental inputs, converting this information to output a specific cell lineage through signaling cascades. Despite the combinatorial nature of mechanical, thermal, and biochemical signals, these stimuli have typically been decoupled and applied independently, requiring continuous regulation by controlling units. We employ a programmable polymer actuator sheet to autonomously synchronize thermal and mechanical signals applied to mesenchymal stem cells (MSC5). Using a grid on its underside, the shape change of polymer sheet, as well as cell morphology, calcium (Ca2+) influx, and focal adhesion assembly, could be visualized and quantified. This paper gives compelling evidence that the temperature sensing and mechanosensing of MSC5 are interconnected via intracellular Ca2+. Up-regulated Ca2+ levels lead to a remarkable alteration of histone H3K9 acetylation and activation of osteogenic related genes. The interplay of physical, thermal, and biochemical signaling was utilized to accelerate the cell differentiation toward osteogenic lineage. The approach of programmable bioinstructivity provides a fundamental principle for functional biomaterials exhibiting multifaceted stimuli on differentiation programs. Technological impact is expected in the tissue engineering of periosteum for treating bone defects. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 1441 KW - reversible shape-memory actuator KW - mesenchymal stem cells KW - calcium influx KW - HDAC1 KW - RUNX2 Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-515490 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 4 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fang, Liang A1 - Gould, Oliver E. C. A1 - Lysyakova, Liudmila A1 - Jiang, Yi A1 - Sauter, Tilman A1 - Frank, Oliver A1 - Becker, Tino A1 - Schossig, Michael A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Implementing and quantifying the shape-memory effect of single polymeric micro/nanowires with an atomic force microscope JF - ChemPhysChem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry N2 - The implementation of shape-memory effects (SME) in polymeric micro- or nano-objects currently relies on the application of indirect macroscopic manipulation techniques, for example, stretchable molds or phantoms, to ensembles of small objects. Here, we introduce a method capable of the controlled manipulation and SME quantification of individual micro- and nano-objects in analogy to macroscopic thermomechanical test procedures. An atomic force microscope was utilized to address individual electro-spun poly(ether urethane) (PEU) micro- or nanowires freely suspended between two micropillars on a micro-structured silicon substrate. In this way, programming strains of 10 +/- 1% or 21 +/- 1% were realized, which could be successfully fixed. An almost complete restoration of the original free-suspended shape during heating confirmed the excellent shape-memory performance of the PEU wires. Apparent recovery stresses of sigma(max,app)=1.2 +/- 0.1 and 33.3 +/- 0.1MPa were obtained for a single microwire and nanowire, respectively. The universal AFM test platform described here enables the implementation and quantification of a thermomechanically induced function for individual polymeric micro- and nanosystems. KW - cyclic thermomechanical testing KW - atomic force microscopy KW - soft matter micro- and nanowires KW - shape-memory effect KW - materials science Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.201701362 SN - 1439-4235 SN - 1439-7641 VL - 19 IS - 16 SP - 2078 EP - 2084 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fang, Liang A1 - Yan, Wan A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Programming structural functions in phase-segregated polymers by implementing a defined thermomechanical history JF - Polymer : the international journal for the science and technology of polymers N2 - Unwanted shrinkage behaviors or failure in structural functions such as mechanical strength or deformability of polymeric products related to their thermomechanical history are a major challenge in production of plastics. Here, we address the question whether we can turn this challenge into an opportunity by creating defined thermomechanical histories in polymers, represented by a specific morphology and nanostructure, to equip polymeric shaped bodies with desired functions, e.g. a temperature-memory, by hot, warm or cold deformation into multiblock copolymers having two partially overlapping melting transitions. A copolyesterurethane named PDLCL, consisting of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(omega-pentadecalactone) (PPDL) crystalline domains, exhibiting a pronounced phase-segregated morphology and partially overlapping melting transitions was selected for this study. Different types of PCL and PPDL crystals as well as distinct degrees of orientation in both amorphous and crystalline domains were obtained after deformation at 20 or 40 degrees C and to a lower extent at 60 degrees C. The generated non-isotropic structures were stable at ambient temperature and represent the different stresses stored. Stress-free heating experiments showed that the relaxation in both amorphous and crystalline phases occurred predominantly with melting of PCL crystals. When the switching temperature, which was similar to the applied deformation temperature (temperature-memory), was exceeded in stress-free heating experiments, the implemented thermomechanical history could be reversed. In contrast, during constant-strain heating to 60 degrees C the generated structural features remained almost unchanged. These findings provide insights about the structure function relation in multiblock copolymers with two crystalline phases exhibiting a temperature-memory effect by implementation of specific thermomechanical histories, which might be a general principle for tailoring other functions like mechanical strength or deformability in polymers. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KW - Temperature-memory effect KW - Phase morphology KW - Thermomechanical history Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2016.08.105 SN - 0032-3861 SN - 1873-2291 VL - 102 SP - 54 EP - 62 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Farhan, Muhammad A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Origami hand for soft robotics driven by thermally controlled polymeric fiber actuators JF - MRS communications / a publication of the Materials Research Society N2 - Active fibers can serve as artificial muscles in robotics or components of smart textiles. Here, we present an origami hand robot, where single fibers control the reversible movement of the fingers. A recovery/contracting force of 0.2 N with a work capacity of 0.175 kJ kg(-1) was observed in crosslinked poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] (cPEVA) fibers, which could enable the bending movement of the fingers by contraction upon heating. The reversible opening of the fingers was attributed to a combination of elastic recovery force of the origami structure and crystallization-induced elongation of the fibers upon cooling. KW - Robotics KW - Polymer KW - Fiber KW - Actuation KW - Shape-memory Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-021-00058-4 SN - 2159-6859 SN - 2159-6867 VL - 11 IS - 4 SP - 476 EP - 482 PB - Springer CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Farhan, Muhammad A1 - Chaudhary, Deeptangshu A1 - Nöchel, Ulrich A1 - Behl, Marc A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Electrical actuation of coated and composite fibers based on poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] JF - Macromolecular materials and engineering N2 - Robots are typically controlled by electrical signals. Resistive heating is an option to electrically trigger actuation in thermosensitive polymer systems. In this study electrically triggerable poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] (PEVA)-based fiber actuators are realized as composite fibers as well as polymer fibers with conductive coatings. In the coated fibers, the core consists of crosslinked PEVA (cPEVA), while the conductive coating shell is achieved via a dip coating procedure with a coating thickness between 10 and 140 mu m. The conductivity of coated fibers sigma = 300-550 S m(-1) is much higher than that of the composite fibers sigma = 5.5 S m(-1). A voltage (U) of 110 V is required to heat 30 cm of coated fiber to a targeted temperature of approximate to 65 degrees C for switching in less than a minute. Cyclic electrical actuation investigations reveal epsilon '(rev) = 5 +/- 1% reversible change in length for coated fibers. The fabrication of such electro-conductive polymeric actuators is suitable for upscaling so that their application potential as artificial muscles can be explored in future studies. KW - artificial muscles KW - fiber actuators KW - resistive heating KW - shape‐memory polymer actuators KW - soft robotics Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202000579 SN - 1438-7492 SN - 1439-2054 VL - 306 IS - 2 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER -