Life science nanoarchitectonics at interfaces

Abstract

Nanotechnology is an indispensable item in advanced bio-related and life sciences, but a novel concept is necessary to bridge the gaps between nanotechnology and biology/materials chemistry. The most suitable concept for this task would be nanoarchitectonics. In this short review article, our recent accomplishments of nanoarchitectonics approaches in cell functions including gene delivery and controlled differentiation are summarized. Regulation of cell activities by nanoarchitected materials is carried out through their interfacial contacts. Our accomplishments are here described according to the types of material structural motif, (i) nanotopography, (ii) self-assembled structures, and (iii) composite materials. Finally, several challenging approaches are introduced as frontiers of cell fate regulation at interfacial media. Development of artificial materials and systems to regulate bio-organization including living cells will give intuition and ideas even for the design of general functional systems. Interfacial nanoarchitectonics could be an important key concept for future advanced life technologies as well as currently required biomedical applications.