At the heart of this innovation is a deceptively simple idea: mimic the body’s own extracellular matrix (ECM), the natural scaffold that tells cells where to go and what to do. Claridge and her team at Purdue have developed ultrathin striped molecular films that do just that. These films, patterned with nanoscale precision, direct cell adhesion and growth by clustering chemical signals in ways that mirror biology.

The technology overcomes the limitations of traditional lithography, which struggles to pattern soft materials at the scale cells actually respond to. Instead, Claridge’s method organizes functional groups at the nanometer level, creating artificial ECMs that are both biologically relevant and highly customizable.

Validated using a murine myoblast model, the films supported extensive cell adhesion and proliferation. The implications are wide-ranging: regenerative medicine, disease modeling and fundamental studies of how cells interpret their environment.

This work reflects the interdisciplinary spirit of the Weldon School, where chemistry, biology and engineering converge to solve problems that matter. Claridge’s collaborators include Sarah Calve, Tyson Davis, Alita Clinton Miller and Anamika Singh. Who bring expertise from across the life sciences, making this a team effort.

As Purdue BME continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible at the interface of materials and medicine, innovations like this remind us that sometimes, the smallest patterns can make the biggest difference.

The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university’s academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. In fiscal year 2024, the office reported 145 deals finalized with 224 technologies signed, 466 invention disclosures received, and 290 U.S. and international patents received. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information.