Thermoresponsive comb-shaped copolymer-Si(100) hybrids for accelerated temperature-dependent cell detachment

Magnetic thermo-responsive branched polymer for fast extraction and enrichment of phenolic acids in olive oil with tunable and enhanced performance

Magnetic thermo-responsive branched polymer (Fe₃O₄@poly(glycidyl methacrylate)@poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)) was fabricated for the first time and applied for microwave-assisted magnetic solid phase extraction of phenolic acids in olive oil samples followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Owing to the controllable molecular weight of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization and the thermo-responsive characteristic of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), extraction performance could be efficiently tuned and enhanced. The whole sample pretreatment process was accomplished within 1 min with the help of the microwave. The nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, water contact angles and dynamic light scattering. The adsorption experimental data fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm model and followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The factors affecting the extraction process including adsorbent amount, adsorption time, sample volume, desorption conditions and interferents were investigated and optimized. Under the most favorable conditions, the developed method showed good linearity (R² ≥ 97.98%) in the range of 0.2-30 μg L^-1, low limits of detection (0.005-0.030 μg L^-1) and limits of quantification (0.016-0.098 μg L^-1) as well as satisfactory precision (RSDs≤4.85%). Our proposed method was successfully used for determination of phenolic acids in olive oil samples and satisfactory recoveries at three spiked concentration levels were in the range of 84.6-108.1% with RSDs less than 9.20%. Coupled with principal component analysis, our developed method proved promising for fast and convenient differentiation between extra virgin olive oils and refined olive oils.

Preparation and Characterization of Thermoresponsive Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) for Cell Culture Applications

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) is a typical thermoresponsive polymer used widely and studied deeply in smart materials, which is attractive and valuable owing to its reversible and remote "on-off" behavior adjusted by temperature variation. PNIPAAm usually exhibits opposite solubility or wettability across lower critical solution temperature (LCST), and it is readily functionalized making it available in extensive applications. Cell culture is one of the most prospective and representative applications. Active attachment and spontaneous detachment of targeted cells are easily tunable by surface wettability changes and volume phase transitions of PNIPAAm modified substrates with respect to ambient temperature. The thermoresponsive culture platforms and matching thermal-liftoff method can effectively substitute for the traditional cell harvesting ways like enzymatic hydrolysis and mechanical scraping, and will improve the stable and high quality of recovered cells. Therefore, the establishment and detection on PNIPAAm based culture systems are of particular importance. This review covers the important developments and recommendations for future work of the preparation and characterization of temperature-responsive substrates based on PNIPAAm and analogues for cell culture applications.

Biomimetic Self-Renewal Polymer Brushes with Protein Resistance Inspired by Fish Skin

Inspired by fish skin, biomimetic self-renewal poly[(ethylene oxide)-co-(ethylene carbonate)] (PEOC) brushes with protein resistance had been prepared via surface-initiated ring-opening polymerization (ROP). The results of hydrolytic degradation indicated that the PEOC brushes could degrade in artificial seawater. Ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, and contact angle results demonstrated that the PEOC brushes degrade uniformly. By using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, we studied the protein adsorption on the surfaces in artificial seawater at different degradation times. After 24, 48, 96, and 168 h of degradation, the PEOC surfaces showed nearly zero Δf and ΔD for bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, and fibrinogen. More importantly, there was a notably lower density of microorganisms adhered to the surface modified with PEOC compared with that of the surface without PEOC in natural seawater. The current study showed that the PEOC brushes exhibit a self-renewal property with persistent protein resistance and prevent the adhesion of microorganisms. Such a biomimetic polymer had a great potential in marine antibiofouling.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) modified polydopamine as a temperature-responsive surface for cultivation and harvest of mesenchymal stem cells

A thermo-responsive surface was fabricated by depositing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) onto polydopamine coated cell culture substrata through free radical polymerization for the purpose of culturing and harvesting human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Human MSCs were cultured onto the PNIPAAm-g-polydopamine coated surface and harvested by changing from physiological to ambient temperature. The produced PNIPAAm-g-polydopamine surface was characterized by atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, water contact angle measurement, differential scanning calorimetry, and cell culture studies. Our results revealed that hMSCs could be detached from the PNIPAAm-g-polydopamine surface within 60 min after switching the temperature from 37 °C to room temperature. The detached hMSCs were able to proliferate on the PNIPAAm-g-polydopamine coated surface for further growth and harvest.

Reversible Light-Switching of Enzymatic Activity on Orthogonally Functionalized Polymer Brushes

Copolymer brushes, composed of glycidyl methacrylate and a furan-protected maleimide-containing monomer, were grafted from radical initiators at the surface of irradiation-activated fluoropolymer foils. After postpolymerization modification with enzymatically active microperoxidase-11 and photochromic spiropyran moieties, the polymer brushes catalyzed the oxidation of 3,3'5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine. Exposure to either UV or visible-light allowed switching the turnover by more than 1 order of magnitude, as consequence of the reversible, light-induced spiropyran-merocyanine transition. The modified samples were integrated into an optofluidic device that allowed the reversible switching of enzymatic activity for several cycles under flow, validating the potential for application in smart lab-on-a-chip systems.

Surface-Initiated Controlled Radical Polymerization: State-of-the-Art, Opportunities, and Challenges in Surface and Interface Engineering with Polymer Brushes

The generation of polymer brushes by surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization (SI-CRP) techniques has become a powerful approach to tailor the chemical and physical properties of interfaces and has given rise to great advances in surface and interface engineering. Polymer brushes are defined as thin polymer films in which the individual polymer chains are tethered by one chain end to a solid interface. Significant advances have been made over the past years in the field of polymer brushes. This includes novel developments in SI-CRP, as well as the emergence of novel applications such as catalysis, electronics, nanomaterial synthesis and biosensing. Additionally, polymer brushes prepared via SI-CRP have been utilized to modify the surface of novel substrates such as natural fibers, polymer nanofibers, mesoporous materials, graphene, viruses and protein nanoparticles. The last years have also seen exciting advances in the chemical and physical characterization of polymer brushes, as well as an ever increasing set of computational and simulation tools that allow understanding and predictions of these surface-grafted polymer architectures. The aim of this contribution is to provide a comprehensive review that critically assesses recent advances in the field and highlights the opportunities and challenges for future work.

Functionalization of surfaces with branched polymers

This review summarizes recent developments in the field of surfaces functionalized with branched polymers, including the fabrication methods, morphologies, properties and applications.

Thermoresponsive polymers based on ring-opening metathesis polymerization

A library of thermoresponsive polymers were developed with hydrophobic polynorbornene backbones and hydrophilic N-alkyl-amide/imide side groups, whose thermoresponsive behaviour in water could be conveniently tuned in a wide temperature range.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate induced modulation of cell deadhesion and migration on thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is the main polyphenolic constituent of green tea, has emerged as a promising candidate for potential applications in selected anticancer therapeutics. Generally, tumor metastasis is known to be correlated with the alterations in cell adhesion and migration of normal cells. Nevertheless, the effect of EGCG on the biophysical responses of tumor cell adhering on extracellular matrix remains obscure. In this study, a thermosenstive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) system was developed to elucidate the potential anti-tumor effect of EGCG on the deadhesion and migration of HepG2 cells. First, both XPS and ELISA validated the coating of laminin (LA) on PIPAAm. Second, a change of nanotopology of LA layer on PIPAAm across the lower solution critical temperature (LCST) was detected with AFM. HepG2 cells seeded on LA-coated PIPAAm surface was shown to go through deadhesion by lowering the temperature below the LCST. Interestingly, EGCG was shown to decelerate the thermally triggered deadhesion of HepG2 cell on LA coated PIPAAm. Moreover, the inhibition of cell deadhesion in EGCG treated cells was shown to be driven by actin remodeling. Interestingly, the modulation of cell deadhesion on LA coated PIPAAm by EGCG leads to the reduction of cell motility as shown by real-time cell migration assay. Overall, the use of PIPAAm system demonstrated the promise of EGCG as anticancer therapy through the suppression of cell deadhesion and migration.

Bond Tension in Tethered Macromolecules

The paper presents scaling analysis of mechanical tension generated in densely branched macromolecules tethered to a solid substrate with a short linker. Steric repulsion between branches results in z-fold amplification of tension in the linker, where z is the number of chain-like arms. At large z ~ 100-1000, the generated tension may exceed the strength of covalent bonds and sever the linker. Two types of molecular architectures were considered: polymer stars and polymer "bottlebrushes" tethered to a solid substrate. Depending on the grafting density, one distinguishes the so-called mushroom, loose grafting, and dense grafting regimes. In isolated (mushroom) and loosely tethered bottlebrushes, the linker tension is by a factor of [Formula: see text] smaller than the tension in a tethered star with the same number of arms z. In densely tethered stars, the effect of interchain distance (d) and number of arms (z) on the magnitude of linker tension is given by f ≅ f₀z^3/2(b/d) for stars in a solvent environment and f ≅ f₀z² (b/d)² for dry stars, where b is the Kuhn length and f₀ ≅ k_BT/b is intrinsic bond tension. These relations are also valid for tethered bottlebrushes with long side chains. However, unlike molecular stars, bottlebrushes demonstrate variation of tension along the backbone f ≅ f₀s z^1/2 / d as a function of distance s from the free end of the backbone. In dense brushes [Formula: see text] with z ≅ 1000, the backbone tension increases from f ≅ f₀ = 1 pN at the free end of the backbone (s ≅ b) to its maximum f ≅ zf₀ ≅ 1 nN at the linker to the substrate (s ≅ zb).

Stability and Cell Adhesion Properties of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Brushes with Variable Grafting Densities

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes with three different grafting densities were synthesized via surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization on glass or on silicon substrates. The substrates were modified with monochlorosilane-based or trimethoxysilane-based atom-transfer radical polymerization initiators. Atomic force microscopy images showed detachment of brushes from the monochlorosilane-based system under cell culture conditions. In situ ellipsometry demonstrated the reversible swelling and collapse of the brushes as the temperature was varied across the lower critical solution temperature of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) in pure water. The polymer brushes were evaluated as supporting substrates for MC-3T3 cell cultures. At 37°C (T>lower critical solution temperature), the seeded cells adhered, spread, and proliferated, whereas at 25°C (T<lower critical solution temperature), the cells detached from the surface. The low-density polymer brush showed the highest cell adhesion, featuring adhering cells with an elongated morphology.

Engineering the extracellular environment: Strategies for building 2D and 3D cellular structures

Cell fate is regulated by extracellular environmental signals. Receptor specific interaction of the cell with proteins, glycans, soluble factors as well as neighboring cells can steer cells towards proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis or migration. In this review, approaches to build cellular structures by engineering aspects of the extracellular environment are described. These methods include non-specific modifications to control the wettability and stiffness of surfaces using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) as well as methods where the temporal activation and spatial distribution of adhesion ligands is controlled. Building on these techniques, construction of two-dimensional cell sheets using temperature sensitive polymers or electrochemical dissolution is described together with current applications of these grafts in the clinical arena. Finally, methods to pattern cells in three-dimensions as well as to functionalize the 3D environment with biologic motifs take us one step closer to being able to engineer multicellular tissues and organs.

Room temperature, aqueous post-polymerization modification of glycidyl methacrylate-containing polymer brushes prepared via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

This manuscript reports on the post-polymerization modification of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) and PGMA-co-poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PGMA(x)-co-PDEAEMA(y)) (co)polymer brushes prepared via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of tertiary amine groups incorporated in the polymer brush to accelerate the ring-opening of the epoxide groups by primary amines and to facilitate the aqueous, room temperature post-polymerization modification of the brushes. Using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to monitor the ring-opening reaction of the epoxide groups, it was found that the incorporation of 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) groups in the PGMA brushes significantly accelerated the rate of the post-polymerization modification reaction with several model amines. The rate enhancement was dependent on the fraction of DEAEMA units incorporated in the copolymer brush. For example, whereas 24 h was necessary to obtain a conversion of approximately 40% for PGMA brushes immersed in a 1 M propylamine solution in water, the same conversion was reached, in identical reaction conditions, after 8 and 2 h with copolymer brushes containing 10 mol % and 25 mol % of DEAEMA along the copolymer chains, respectively. In a final series of proof-of-concept experiments, the feasibility of the glycidyl methacrylate containing brushes to act as substrates for protein immobilization was studied. Using FTIR spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) experiments, it could be demonstrated that the incorporation of DEAEMA units not only enhanced the rate of the protein immobilization reaction, but also resulted in higher protein binding capacities as compared to a PGMA homopolymer brush. These features make PGMA(x)-co-PDEAEMA(y) brushes very attractive candidates for the development of protein microarrays, among others.

Thermoresponsive copolymer nanofilms for controlling cell adhesion, growth, and detachment

This study reports the development and use of a novel thermoresponsive polymeric nanofilm for controlling cell adhesion and growth at 37 °C, and then cell detachment for cell recovery by subsequent temperature drop to the ambient temperature, without enzymatic cleavage or mechanical scraping. A copolymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-hydroxypropyl methacrylate-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (abbreviated PNIPAAm copolymer), was synthesized by free radical polymerization. The thermoresponses of the copolymer in aqueous solution were demonstrated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) through detecting the sensitive changes of copolymer aggregation against temperature. The DLS measurements revealed the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at approximately 30 °C. The PNIPAAm film stability and robustness was provided through silyl cross-linking within the film and with the hydroxyl groups on the substrate surface. Film thickness, stability, and reversibility with respect to temperature switches were examined by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements. The results confirmed the high extent of thermosensitivity and structural restoration based on the alterations of film thickness and surface wettability. The effective control of adhesion, growth, and detachment of HeLa and HEK293 cells demonstrated the physical controllability and cellular compatibility of the copolymer nanofilms. These PNIPAAm copolymer nanofilms could open up a convenient interfacial mediation for cell film production and cell expansion by nonenzymatic and nonmechanical cell recovery.

Protein adsorption and cell adhesion/detachment behavior on dual-responsive silicon surfaces modified with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-polystyrene copolymer

Diblock copolymer grafts covalently attached to surfaces have attracted considerable attention because of their special structure and novel properties. In this work, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-polystyrene (PNIPAAm-b-PS) brushes were prepared via surface-initiated consecutive atom-transfer radical polymerization on initiator-immobilized silicon. Because of the inherent thermosensitivity of PNIPAAm and the hydrophobicity difference between the two blocks, the modified surfaces were responsive to both temperature and solvent. Moreover, the diblock copolymer brushes exhibited both resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption and unique cell interaction properties. They showed strong protein resistance in both phosphate-buffered saline and blood plasma. In particular, fibrinogen adsorption from plasma at either room temperature or body temperature was less than 8 ng/cm(2), suggesting that the surfaces might possess good blood compatibility. In addition, the adhesion and detachment of L929 cells could be "tuned", and the ability to control the detachment of cells thermally was restored by block polymerization of hydrophobic, cell-adhesive PS onto a thicker PNIPAAm layer. In addition to providing a simple and effective design for advanced cell-culture surfaces, these results suggest new biomedical applications for PNIPAAm.

Hepatitis B virus induced coupling of deadhesion and migration of HepG2 cells on thermo-responsive polymer

The unique physical property of thermo-responsive polymer (TRP) has recently prompted its increasing applications in tissue engineering. On the other hand, TRP has not been exploited for potential applications in quantitative cell screening against external stimulations. In this study, TRP is applied as a model system for elucidating the effect of HBV replication on the biophysical responses of HepG2 cells transfected by wild type HBV genome. Moreover, mutant HBV genome is designed to assess the specific activity of the SH3-binding domain of HBx during HBV replication. The adhesion contact recession and geometry transformation of HepG2 cells transfected with empty vector (pcDNA3.1 cells), wild type HBV (wtHBV cells) and mutant HBV genome (mHBV cells) are probed during the thermal transformation across lower solution critical temperature of TRP. In comparison with pcDNA3.1 cells and mHBV cells, the initial rate of reduction in degree of deformation and average adhesion energy for wtHBV cells is significantly increased. Interestingly, migration speed and persistence time of cells are found to be correlated with the cell deadhesion kinetics. Immuno-fluorescence microscopy demonstrates that HBV replication reduces the actin concentration and focal adhesions at cell periphery during the initial 30 min cell deadhesion. The results strongly suggested that HBV infection triggers the dynamic responses of HepG2 cells through the cytoskeleton remodeling and subsequent mechanochemical transduction. Overall, it is shown that TRP provides a convenient platform for quantifying biological stimulations on adherent cells.

Cell growth as a sheet on three-dimensional sharp-tip nanostructures

Cells in vivo encounter with and react to the extracellular matrix materials on a nanometer scale. Recent advances in nanofabrication technologies allowing the precise control of a nanostructure's pattern, periodicity, shape, and height have enabled a systematic study of cell interactions with three-dimensional nanotopographies. In this report, we examined the behavior of human foreskin fibroblasts on well-ordered dense arrays (post and grate patterns with a 230-nm pitch) of sharp-tip nanostructures with varying three-dimensionalities (from 50 to 600 nm in structural height) over time-until a cell sheet was formed. Although cells started out smaller and proliferated slower on tall nanostructures (both posts and grates) than on smooth surfaces, they became confluent to form a sheet in 3 weeks. On grate patterns, significant cell elongation in alignment with the underlying pattern was observed and maintained over time. On tall nanostructures, cells grew while raised on sharp tips, resulting in a weak total adherence to the solid surface. A sheet of cells was easily peeled off from such surfaces, suggesting that nanoscale topographies can be used as the basis for cell-sheet tissue engineering.

Superhydrophobic and self-cleaning bio-fiber surfaces via ATRP and subsequent postfunctionalization

Superhydrophobic and self-cleaning cellulose surfaces have been obtained via surface-confined grafting of glycidyl methacrylate using atom transfer radical polymerization combined with postmodification reactions. Both linear and branched graft-on-graft architectures were used for the postmodification reactions to obtain highly hydrophobic bio-fiber surfaces by functionalization of the grafts with either poly(dimethylsiloxane), perfluorinated chains, or alkyl chains, respectively. Postfunctionalization using alkyl chains yielded results similar to those of surfaces modified by perfluorination, in terms of superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning properties, and the stability of these properties over time. In addition, highly oleophobic surfaces have been obtained when modification with perfluorinated chains was performed.

Protein adsorption on poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-modified silicon surfaces prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Well-controlled poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP)-grafted silicon surfaces were prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) with 1,4-dioxane/water mixtures as solvents and CuCl/5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (Me6TATD) as a catalyst. The thickness of the PVP layer on the surface increased with reaction time, suggesting that the ATRP grafting of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) from the silicon surfaces was a well-controlled process. The water contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the modified surfaces. The protein adsorption property of the PVP-grafted surfaces was evaluated using a radiolabeling method. Compared with unmodified silicon surfaces, a Si-PVP60 surface with a PVP thickness of 15.06 nm reduced the level of adsorption of fibrinogen, human serum albumin (HSA), and lysozyme by 75, 93, and 81%, respectively. Moreover, the level of fibrinogen adsorption decreases gradually with an increase in PVP thickness. However, no significant difference in fibrinogen adsorption was found when the PVP layer was thicker than the critical thickness of 13.45 nm.

Inorganic-organic hybrid coatings on stainless steel by layer-by-layer deposition and surface-initiated atom-transfer-radical polymerization for combating biocorrosion

To improve the biocorrosion resistance of stainless steel (SS) and to confer the bactericidal function on its surface for inhibiting bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, well-defined inorganic-organic hybrid coatings, consisting of the inner compact titanium oxide multilayers and outer dense poly(vinyl-N-hexylpyridinium) brushes, were successfully developed. Nanostructured titanium oxide multilayer coatings were first built up on the SS substrates via the layer-by-layer sol-gel deposition process. The trichlorosilane coupling agent, containing the alkyl halide atom-transfer-radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator, was subsequently immobilized on the titanium oxide coatings for surface-initiated ATRP of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP). The pyridium nitrogen moieties of the covalently immobilized 4VP polymer, or P(4VP), brushes were quaternized with hexyl bromide to produce a high concentration of quaternary ammonium salt on the SS surfaces. The excellent antibacterial efficiency of the grafted polycations, poly(vinyl-N-pyridinium bromide), was revealed by viable cell counts and atomic force microscopy images of the surface. The effectiveness of the hybrid coatings in corrosion protection was verified by the Tafel plot and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements.

Engineering cell de-adhesion dynamics on thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) has been demonstrated as an effective thermoresponsive polymer for non-invasive cell regeneration/recovery. However, little is known about the intricate relationship between the biophysical response of cells and physiochemical properties of PIPAAm during cell recovery. In this study, the de-adhesion kinetics of smooth muscle cell (SMC) on PIPAAm surfaces is probed with unique biophysical techniques. Water-immersion atomic force microscope (AFM) first showed that the nanotopology of PIPAAm surfaces is dependent on the polymerization time and collagen coating. It is found that the initial rate of cell de-adhesion increases with the increase in polymerization time. Moreover, the degree of cell deformation (a/R) and average adhesion energy are reduced with the increase of grafted PIPAAm density during 40min of cell de-adhesion. It has been shown that collagen coating regulates cell adhesion on biomaterial surface. Interestingly, lower collagen density on PIPAAm leads to higher adhesion energy per cell during the initial 20min compared with as-prepared PIPAAm, while the initial rate of cell de-adhesion remains unchanged. In contrast, higher collagen density leads to 50% reduction in the initial rate of cell de-adhesion and higher adhesion energy per cell during the entire 90min. Furthermore, immunostaining of actin provides supporting evidence that the de-adhesion kinetics is correlated with the cytoskeleton transformation during cell de-adhesion below the lower solution critical temperature (LCST).

Patterned biofunctional designs of thermoresponsive surfaces for spatiotemporally controlled cell adhesion, growth, and thermally induced detachment

In the present study, we report advanced patterned biofunctionalization of thermoresponsive surfaces for achievement of spatiotemporally controlled cell adhesion, growth, and thermally induced detachment. These patterned biofunctional thermoresponsive surfaces were prepared using dual surface modification techniques: electron beam-induced surface patterning of carboxyl-functional thermoresponsive polymers with appropriate metal masks and following site-selective biofunctionalization with biomolecules, the cell adhesive peptide (RGDS) and/or the cell growth factor (insulin; INS). Patterned co-immobilization of RGDS-INS onto thermoresponsive surfaces dominated site-selective cell adhesion and growth along with patterned biofunctional domains in the serum-free culture. Spatiotemporal detachment of sparsely adherent and confluent cells from these patterned biofunctional thermoresponsive surfaces were both achieved only by reducing temperature. Furthermore, RGDS-INS-patterned thermoresponsive surfaces also successfully demonstrated the selective fabrication and recovery of either contiguous monolayer or mesh-like designed monolayer tissue constructs on the identical surfaces. Thus, patterned biofunctional designs would be utilized for the creation and harvest of biomimetic-designed vascular networks having sufficient biofunctional activities in facilitated cell sheet engineering and regenerative medicine.