Correction: Rapid fabrication of functionalised poly(dimethylsiloxane) microwells for cell aggregate formation.

Correction for 'Rapid fabrication of functionalised poly(dimethylsiloxane) microwells for cell aggregate formation' by A. Forget et al., Biomater. Sci., 2017, 5, 828-836.

Rapid fabrication of functionalised poly(dimethylsiloxane) microwells for cell aggregate formation.

Cell aggregates reproduce many features of the natural architecture of functional tissues, and have therefore become an important in vitro model of tissue function. In this study, we present an efficient and rapid method for the fabrication of site specific functionalised poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microwell arrays that promote the formation of insulin-producing beta cell (MIN6) aggregates. Microwells were prepared using an ice templating technique whereby aqueous droplets were frozen on a surface and PDMS was cast on top to form a replica. By employing an aqueous alkali hydroxide solution, we demonstrate exclusive etching and functionalisation of the microwell inner surface, thereby allowing the selective absorption of biological factors within the microwells. Additionally, by manipulating surface wettability of the substrate through plasma polymer coating, the shape and profile of the microwells could be tailored. Microwells coated with antifouling Pluronic 123, bovine serum albumin, collagen type IV or insulin growth factor 2 were employed to investigate the formation and stability of MIN6 aggregates in microwells of different shapes. MIN6 aggregates formed with this technique retained insulin expression. These results demonstrate the potential of this platform for the rapid screening of biological factors influencing the formation and response of insulin-producing cell aggregates without the need for expensive micromachining techniques.

Fabrication of silicon nanowire arrays by near-field laser ablation and metal-assisted chemical etching.

We present an elegant route for the fabrication of ordered arrays of vertically-aligned silicon nanowires with tunable geometry at controlled locations on a silicon wafer. A monolayer of transparent microspheres convectively assembled onto a gold-coated silicon wafer acts as a microlens array. Irradiation with a single nanosecond laser pulse removes the gold beneath each focusing microsphere, leaving behind a hexagonal pattern of holes in the gold layer. Owing to the near-field effects, the diameter of the holes can be at least five times smaller than the laser wavelength. The patterned gold layer is used as catalyst in a metal-assisted chemical etching to produce an array of vertically-aligned silicon nanowires. This approach combines the advantages of direct laser writing with the benefits of parallel laser processing, yielding nanowire arrays with controlled geometry at predefined locations on the silicon surface. The fabricated VA-SiNW arrays can effectively transfect human cells with a plasmid encoding for green fluorescent protein.

Antibacterial properties of nitric oxide-releasing porous silicon nanoparticles.

In this study, the antibacterial efficacy of NO-releasing porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) is reported. NO-releasing pSiNPs were produced via the conjugation of S-nitrosothiol (SNO) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) donors to the nanoparticle surfaces. The release of the conjugated NO caused by the decomposition of the conjugated SNO and GSNO was boosted in the presence of ascorbic acid. The released NO was bactericidal to Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), and eliminated bacterial growth within 2 h of incubation without compromising the viability of mammalian cells. These results demonstrate the advantages of NO-releasing pSiNPs for antibacterial applications, for example, in chronic wound treatment.

Small interfering RNA delivery by polyethylenimine-functionalised porous silicon nanoparticles.

In this study, thermally hydrocarbonised porous silicon nanoparticles (THCpSiNPs) capped with polyethylenimine (PEI) were fabricated, and their potential for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery was investigated in an in vitro glioblastoma model. PEI coating following siRNA loading enhanced the sustained release of siRNA, and suppressed burst release effects. The positively-charged surface improved the internalisation of the nanoparticles across the cell membrane. THCpSiNP-mediated siRNA delivery reduced mRNA expression of the MRP1 gene, linked to the resistence of glioblastoma to chemotherapy, by 63% and reduced MRP1-protein levels by 70%. MRP1 siRNA loaded nanoparticles did not induce cytotoxicity in glioblastoma cells, but markedly reduced cell proliferation. In summary, the results demonstrated that non-cytotoxic cationic THCpSiNPs are promising vehicles for therapeutic siRNA delivery.