National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China.
Institute of Clinical Medicine National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Mater Chem B. 2020 Oct 21;8(40):9212-9226. doi: 10.1039/d0tb01737j.
Dynamic biochemical and biophysical signals of cellular matrix define and regulate tissue-specific cell functions and fate. To recapitulate this complex environment in vitro, biomaterials based on structural- or degradation-tunable polymers have emerged as powerful platforms for regulating the "on-demand" cell-material dynamic interplay. As one of the most prevalent photoswitch molecules, the photoisomerization of azobenzene demonstrates a unique advantage in the construction of dynamic substrates. Moreover, the development of azobenzene-containing biomaterials is particularly helpful in elucidating cells that adapt to a dynamic microenvironment or integrate spatiotemporal variations of signals. Herein, this minireview, places emphasis on the research progress of azobenzene photoswitches in the dynamic regulation of matrix signals. Some techniques and material design methods have been discussed to provide some theoretical guidance for the rational and efficient design of azopolymer-based material platforms. In addition, considering that the UV-light response of traditional azobenzene photoswitches is not conducive to biological applications, we have summarized the recent approaches to red-shifting the light wavelength for azobenzene activation.
细胞外基质的动态生化和生物物理信号决定并调节组织特异性细胞功能和命运。为了在体外重现这种复杂的环境，基于结构或降解可调聚合物的生物材料已经成为调节“按需”细胞-材料动态相互作用的强大平台。作为最常见的光开关分子之一，偶氮苯的光异构化在动态底物的构建中表现出独特的优势。此外，含偶氮苯的生物材料的发展特别有助于阐明适应动态微环境或整合信号时空变化的细胞。本文综述了偶氮苯光开关在基质信号动态调控中的研究进展。讨论了一些技术和材料设计方法，为基于偶氮聚合物的材料平台的合理高效设计提供了一些理论指导。此外，考虑到传统偶氮苯光开关的紫外光响应不利于生物应用，我们总结了最近用于偶氮苯激活的红移光波长的方法。
