Mussel-inspired interfacial ultrathin films for cellular adhesion on the wrinkled surfaces of hydrophobic fluids

The cellular scaffold plays a crucial role in regulating cellular behavior, and controlling its mechanical properties is important in the field of regenerative medicine. In this study, common silicone oil was employed as the cellular scaffold and coated with a polymeric ultrathin film at the oil/water interface. Inspired by mussel adhesion, polydopamine ultrathin films were formed at the silicone oil/water interface even in neutral solution. The MCF-7 cells successfully adhered to the oil/water interface without aggregation during cell growth. Interfacial wrinkles were induced by changes in the oil volume and the compressive stress, and the MCF-7 cells adhered to the oil/water interface and were arranged along the wrinkles. These polydopamine interfacial films provide new opportunities for investigating the relationships between toughness and patterns for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.