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Our group has developed an innovative approach to developing substrates that are dynamic and that can switch the activities of immobilized ligands in situ.54 These dynamic substrates offer an unprecedented opportunity to understand the responses of adherent cells to changes in the ECM; including, for example, changes caused by binding of proteins to matrix, proteolytic action on matrix, and cellular forces that unfold matrix proteins. The approach takes advantage of the presence of the gold film underlying the monolayer, and the use of applied electrical potentials to effect electrochemical conversions of the monolayer. We have designed a series of monolayers that respond to these applied potentials by revealing or releasing ligands at the interface, and therefore for changing the ECM ligands with which an adherent cell interacts.50, 57, 79, 85 We demonstrated the use of these dynamic substrates for studies of cell migration and for patterning multiple cell types into defined cocultures.52, 58
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