Controlled Cell Adhesion on PEG‐Based Switchable Surfaces

A wash and brush up: Thermoresponsive and biocompatible oligo(ethylene glycol)-based copolymers enable the control of cell adhesion on planar gold substrates. While at physiological temperature, the polymer brushes are collapsed and enable fibroblast adhesion and cultivation, at room temperature, the now hydrated oligo(ethylene glycol) segments become cell-repellent, thus allowing cell harvesting under mild conditions (see scheme).