Regulating Cell–Material Interfacial Interactions through Selective Cellular Resistance

Regulating the behavior of different types of cells at the material-tissue interface is pivotal for inducing tissue regeneration. Traditional methods enhance target cell activity using specific ligands such as peptides and antibodies, which have stability issues within biological environments. Herein, we show that selective cell resistance can be realized by fine-tuning the material surface chemistry, achieving strong cell selectivity superior to that of extracellular matrix peptides. A certain degree of adsorption resistance differentially affects the adhesion of various types of cells on material surfaces. Taking this principle into account, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafted surface was meticulously fine-tuned to selectively support endothelial cells (ECs) while resisting smooth muscle cell attachment. Mechanistic studies identified that the difference in myosin II expression is crucial for cell selectivity. An EC-selective polymer coating for cardiovascular devices was fabricated to promote rapid surface endothelialization and prevent neointimal hyperplasia in vivo.