Abstract

Polymers that Control Cells

Mark Bradley, Professor of Therapeutic Innovation, Precision Healthcare University Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London

The focus of the Bradley group is the application of the tools of chemistry to allow the manipulation, control and understanding of specific biological processes and functions and to address specific biological questions, problems and needs. One piece of work which forms the basis of my talk is polymer microarray technology which has been developed in the Bradley group for over 15 years. For example my group was the first to use polymer microarray technology to discover new polymers that prevent bacterial adhesion (see J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 96).  In my talk I will introduce polymer microarray technology; including our inkjet mediated fabrication methodologies (which allows over 7000 different substrates to be made on a single glass slide) and describe how this approach has been used in a large number of stem cell based applications, notably:

(i). The use of polymer microarray technology to discover a novel thermo-responsive chemically-defined hydrogel for long term culture of human embryonic stem cells, while deciphering its mode of operation) (Nature Communication, 2013). This work has recently been expanded to include the binding, control and release of primary human mesenchymal adipose derived stem cells (Biomaterials, 2014).

(ii). Polymer discovery that were able to support highly functional hESC-derived hepatocyte like cells (as active as primary human hepatoctyes) (with David Hay see: Stem Cell Res, 2011 and WO2010106345).

(iii). The development of biodegradable polymer blends with a honeycomb structure that binds adult stem cells and then promotes the differentiation of these cells to bone. The material has been scaled-up and shown to have remarkable physical properties and biological properties and has, entered ovine trials (Advanced Functional Materials 2013).

(iv). Polymers that enrich cancer stem cells (Stem Cells, 2016).

I will then discuss a number of newer applications of the team’s polymer microarray technology, specifically in the area of triggered release.