Preparation of Temperature-Responsive Films Based on PNVCL Microgel with Varying Sizes and Cross-Linking Degrees for Cell Harvesting

Abstract

This work reports preparing thermal responsive poly (N-isovinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) microgel based films for cell growth and detachment. PNVCL microgels of hydrated size ranging from 386 to 815 nm (25 °C) and different crosslinking degree are prepared. The PNVCL microgels can be rapidly and massively deposited on glass by spin coating method. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and water contact angle (WCA) are used to study the influence of crosslinking degree and particle size on the surface morphology, stability, and hydrophilicity of PNVCL microgel film. The cell activity of the desorbed cells is quantitatively characterized employing human normal lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). The results show that BEAS-2B cells can be desorbed quickly from the film in 30 min, and the optical density (OD) value of desorbed cells incubated after 3 d increases by approximately 52% compared to the control group. This study broadens the selection of temperature-sensitive film for cell harvesting, and provides a new tool for the quantitative characterization of desorbed cells.

Keywords: PNVCL; cell harvesting; microgel; temperature‐responsive film.