The growth of many eukaryotic cells, including stem cells, in tissue culture requires surface stimulation through biologically active molecules (proteins, GAGS, growth factors). Researchers from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBNⁱ) at The University of Queensland have developed a technology that aggregates, through self assembly, polymer tethers with different functional end groups into nanometre sized ‘islands’ on a polymer surface. The end of these polymer tethers may display different biologically active molecules either directly or via a specific linker molecule. Thus, a synthetic ‘cell-like’ surface presenting a nano-patterned distribution of desired, different biologically active molecules can be displayed to the cell. Importantly, this surface can be manufactured to either allow or disallow non-specific adsorption of biomolecules from the culture environment.

• Licenceⁱ
• Co-development partner