The induction of cell alignment by covalently immobilized gradients of the 6th Ig-like domain of cell adhesion molecule L1 in 3D-fibrin matrices

Abstract Concentration gradients of matrix-bound guidance cues in the extracellular matrix direct cell growth in native tissues and are of great interest for the design of biomedical scaffolds and on implant surfaces. This study describes effects of covalently immobilized gradients of the 6th Ig-like domain of cell adhesion molecule L1 (TG-L1Ig6) within 3D-fibrin matrices on cell alignment. Linear gradients of TG-L1Ig6 were established and shown to be stable for at least 24 h whereas soluble gradients disappeared completely. Fibroblast alignment along the gradients was observed when cultured on top and within TG-L1Ig6-gradient matrices. Fibroblasts responded to an increase of 0.2 μg TG-L1Ig6/ml per mm matrix, corresponding to a concentration change of