Patterned liquid crystal elastomers to control layers of normal and cancer cells

Microscale biological systems such as cell tissues demonstrate fascinating out-of-equilibrium dynamics. This dynamics is difficult to control by factors other than transient gradients and geometrical boundaries. We propose to use nontoxic liquid crystal elastomer substrates to control orientational patterns in layers of living cells such as human dermal fibroblasts and breast cancer cells. The anisotropy axis of the liquid crystal is pre-patterned into various structures that command the dynamics of cells and growth patterns of tissues. Topological defects impact the biological microstructures most strongly, causing spatial variation of cell shapes and translational motion within the tissues. The chiral asymmetry of the substrate affects the chiral asymmetry of the tissues. The control of living cells by patterned liquid crystal elastomers might result in new approaches to guide the functionalities of tissues and to control survivability.