Cell adhesion behavior on molecularly engineered surfaces: Mechanisms of Cell/Surface Interaction

by Ning Cai

Effective attachment of cells on biomaterials is one important requirement in designing engineered tissue substitute. Better understanding of biophysical responses of adherent cells is of great importance in optimizing biomaterial surface for tissue engineering applications. In this work, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and carbon nanotubes (CNT), were surface-modified with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to improve their compatibility. The results of adhesion dynamics of porcine esophageal fibroblasts (PEFs) on ECM protein-immobilized PLA and CNT monolayer demonstrate the different biophysical responses of PEFs on unmodified and ECM protein-modified biomaterial surfaces. ECM protein immobilization effectively promotes adhesion of PEFs to biomaterials surfaces. In addition, it is found that functional blocking of β1 integrin impaires cell-fibronectin interactions. Adhesion strength is tightly correlated to focal adhesion density, which is explained by peeling and fracture models. Furthermore, Weibull distribution is proved to satisfactorily describe cell adhesion strength in adherent cell population.

220 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2012

About the author

Ning Cai is the author of The Savant Trilogy—a young adult series beginning with the bestselling novel Misdirection (longlisted for the 2016 Epigram Books Fiction Prize)—as well as the Singapore Literature Prize-shortlisted memoir Who is Magic Babe Ning? She is also the co-author of three additional books: a travel account (Adventures of 2 Girls, with Pamela Ho), a middle-grade novel (Magicienne, with Don Bosco), and a creativity self-help guide (Game of Thoughts, with John Teo).

For over a decade, she was known as “Magic Babe” Ning, a multi-award-winning stage illusionist and escape artist known as “the sexiest woman in magic”. Lauded for her death-defying acts and record-setting feats, Ning performed for Middle Eastern royalty and showcased her brand of deadly sexy magic to an international audience on stage and on TV. She was also the guest entertainer for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, performing for thousands on the high seas. After a brief period of retirement, she returned in 2017 as the mentalist Ning: Mind Magic Mistress.

Besides being engaged as magic consultant for various projects, she has starred in popular Mediacorp TV shows such as Meat and Greed 2 (Channel 5), 《吃饱没？3》(Eat Already? 3) (Channel 8), Love in a Time of Change (Channel NewsAsia) & Record Breakers (Okto). A TEDx speaker and committee member of the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations’s Women’s Register, Ning has led writing workshops both in person and on Zoom, and is no stranger to the annual Singapore Writers Festival. Recipient of a 2018 National Arts Council Arts Scholarship, Ning has a Masters with Distinction in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh. She now resides in Europe with her spouse and their little boy.