Layered biomimetic nanocomposites replicate bone surface in three-dimensional cell cultures

Replication of bone marrow niches is essential for the evaluation of the toxicity and efficacy of multiple drug candidates and understanding of cell development. Recreation of the complex biological environment of bone marrow in a suitable format for such studies can be accomplished using bone-mimetic constructs based on three-dimensional (3D) nanocomposite-coated cell scaffolds with inverted colloidal crystal geometry. Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembled nanocomposites combine the mechanical properties and surface topography of bone with the transparency of 3D cell matrices. Such rare combination of properties allows for discrimination and control of complex biological processes such as differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells. LBL biomimetic nanocomposites open the pathway toward better understanding of the interactions between stromal cells and the extracellular matrix in the bone marrow microenvironment, in order to achieve the accurate engineering of the bone marrow niches. [GRAPHICS]