Characterization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel grafted polydimethylsiloxane as temperature-responsive cell culture substrate

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) hydrogel modified poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surface (PIPAAm-PDMS) was prepared as a new temperature-responsive cell culture surface by using electron beam (EB) irradiation method. PIPAAm-PDMS surface properties at unstretched and stretched states were characterized by using various analytical method. As the result, we found that PIPAAm-PDMS surface properties as well as thickness of the grafted PIPAAm gel were altered by applied uniaxial mechanical stretching stress. The mechanical stress can affect the degree of hydration of grafted PIPAAm chains.