Selective conformation of cell culturing support layer

1. An apparatus for cell culture comprising:

a substrate;

a support layer at least partially coating the substrate, the support layer comprised of support molecules having a first region configured to bind to the substrate and having a plurality of photo-responsive regions configured to change conformation responsive to irradiation from at least a first optical energy source, wherein the support molecules are azobenzene compounds having a formula of:

wherein R is C 8 H 17 and R′ is OCH 2 COOH;

wherein in a first conformation of the plurality of photo-responsive regions, the support molecules are in a more hydrophobic state displaying a diazo functional group (N═N) on a top surface of the support molecules configured to be more accessible to cells;

wherein in a second conformation of the plurality of photo-responsive regions, the support molecules are in a more hydrophilic state displaying polar groups on the top layer of the support molecules, while the diazo functional group is configured to be less accessible to cells; and

an array of optical elements covering substantially all of one surface of the substrate so as to permit irradiation of the support layer, wherein the array of optical elements are operably coupled to the first optical energy source, each of the optical elements of the array of optical elements configured to be operated independently of each other to selectively irradiate the plurality of photo-responsive regions.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of photo-responsive regions of the molecules includes one or more groups that alter conformation upon irradiation from the first optical energy source.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the array of optical elements is configured to irradiate a light in a wavelength of about 400 nm to about 500 nm.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the array of optical elements is configured to irradiate a light having a power of about 1 mW/cm 2 to about 100,000 mW/cm 2 .

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the array of optical elements is configured to irradiate a light for about 0.1 s to about 10,000 s.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the array of optical elements is configured to irradiate a light at a distance of about 1 cm to about 200 cm from the support layer.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cells accessing the plurality of photo-responsive regions are one or more of stem cells, osteocyte cells, epidermal cells, organ cells, tissue engineering cells, pluripotent cells, pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, epithelial stem cells, bone marrow stem cells, germ stem cells, somatic stem cells, modified stem cells, or a combination thereof.

8. An apparatus for cell culture comprising:

a substrate;

a support layer at least partially coating the substrate, the support layer comprised of support molecules having a first region configured to bind to the substrate and having a plurality of photo-responsive regions configured to change conformation responsive to irradiation from at least a first optical energy source, wherein the support molecules are azobenzene compounds having a formula of:

wherein R is C 8 H 17 and R′ is a polar functional group;

wherein in a first conformation of the plurality of photo-responsive regions, the support molecules are in a more hydrophobic state displaying a diazo functional group (N═N) on a top surface of the support molecules configured to be more accessible to cells;

wherein in a second conformation of the plurality of photo-responsive regions, the support molecules are in a more hydrophilic state displaying polar groups on the top layer of the support molecules, while the diazo functional group is configured to be less accessible to cells; and

an array of optical elements covering substantially all of one surface of the substrate so as to permit irradiation of the support layer, wherein the array of optical elements are operably coupled to the first optical energy source, each of the optical elements of the array of optical elements configured to be operated independently of each other to selectively irradiate the plurality of photo-responsive regions.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the plurality of photo-responsive regions of the molecules includes one or more groups that alter conformation upon irradiation from the first optical energy source.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the array of optical elements is configured to irradiate a light in a wavelength of about 400 nm to about 500 nm.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the array of optical elements is configured to irradiate a light having a power of about 1 mW/cm 2 to about 100,000 mW/cm 2 .

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the array of optical elements is configured to irradiate a light for about 0.1 s to about 10,000 s.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the array of optical elements is configured to irradiate a light at a distance of about 1 cm to about 200 cm from the support layer.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the cells accessing the plurality of photo-responsive regions include stem cells, osteocyte cells, epidermal cells, organ cells, tissue engineering cells, pluripotent cells, pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, epithelial stem cells, bone marrow stem cells, germ stem cells, somatic stem cells, modified stem cells, or combinations thereof.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein R′ is OCH 2 COOH.

16. An apparatus for cell culture comprising:

a substrate;

a support layer at least partially coating the substrate, the support layer comprised of azobenzene support molecules including:

a first region bound to the substrate by C 8 H 17 ; and

a plurality of photo-responsive regions including:

diazo functional groups of the azobenzene molecules, the diazo functional groups being configured to change conformation responsive to irradiation from at least a first optical energy source;

diarylethene groups configured to change conformation responsive to irradiation from at least the first optical energy source

wherein the plurality of photo-responsive regions terminate in a polar functional group;

wherein in a first conformation of the plurality of photo-responsive regions, the support molecules are in a more hydrophobic state configured to be conducive to cell adherence thereto;

wherein in a second conformation of the plurality of photo-responsive regions, the support molecules are in a more hydrophilic state configured to be less conducive to cell adherence than the first confirmation; and

an array of optical elements covering substantially all of one surface of the substrate so as to permit irradiation of the support layer, wherein the array of optical elements are operably coupled to the first optical energy source, each of the optical elements of the array of optical elements configured to be operated independently of each other to selectively irradiate the plurality of photo-responsive regions.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 , wherein the polar functional group is OCH 2 COOH.