Photon-modulated changes of cell attachments on poly(spiropyran-co-methyl methacrylate) membranes.

Spiropyran is a photoresponsive molecule, and nonionic spiropyran is reversibly changed by UV irradiation to a hydrophilic polar, zwitterionic merocyanine isomer, and back again by visible light irradiation. A copolymer of nitrobenzospiropyran and methyl methacrylate, poly(NSP-co-MMA) was used as a material with a photosensitive surface. UV irradiation of the photosensitive surface of poly(NSP-co-MMA)-coated glass plates decreased the water contact angles (11 +/- 1 degrees ) and increased diameter of a water drop relative to the unexposed surface. Light-induced detachment of platelets and mesenchymal stem (KUSA-A1) cells on poly(NSP-co-MMA)-coated glass plates was observed upon simple- and patterned-light irradiation, whereas no light-induced detachment of platelets and mesenchymal stem cells was observed on poly(methyl methacrylate)-coated glass plates. This is a result of the change from a closed nonpolar spiropyran to the polar zwitterionic merocyanine isomer induced by UV irradiation. Light-induced detachment of fibrinogen adsorbed on poly(NSP-co-MMA) coated glass plates was also observed in this investigation.