Photothermally induced local dissociation of collagens for harvesting of cell sheets

The local heating of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) by a photothermal effect directed by near-infrared (NIR) light induces unfolding of absorbed collagen triple helices, yielding soluble collagen single-helical structures. This dissociation of collagens allowed the harvesting of a living idiomorphic cell sheet, achieved upon irradiation with NIR light (λ=808 nm). The PEDOT layer was patterned and cells were successfully cultured on the patterned substrate. Cell sheets of various shapes mirroring the PEDOT pattern could be detached after a few minutes of irradiation with NIR light. The PEDOT patterns guided not only the entire shape of the cell sheets but also the spreading direction of the cells in the sheets. This photothermally induced dissociation of collagen provided a fast non-invasive harvesting method and tailor-made cell-sheet patterns.