Thermoresponsive surfaces for cell culture and enzyme-free cell detachment

Recently, there has been considerable interest in the development of materials whose surface properties can be dynamically modulated by external stimuli. Stimuli-responsive polymers and their hydrogels, also known as smart or intelligent systems, are promising candidates for surface modification because of their interesting characteristics. This article reviews the state-of-the art in thermoresponsive surfaces for cell culture and enzyme-free cell detachment. The paper initially describes different types of stimuli-sensitive polymers and then highlights temperature-sensitive ones, such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), xyloglucan, and poloxamers. The review also discusses chemical routes to functionalize such thermoresponsive polymers before presenting a survey of the recent literature on the approaches concerning temperature-sensitive surfaces.