Fig. 2: Remote control of high-anisotropy nano-blockers for reversible tuning of the average number of ligand inter-cluster edges.

Schematic illustrations of remotely controlling high-anisotropy nano-blockers on the interconnected ligand-displaying materials, which reversibly modulates the average number of ligand inter-cluster edges (referred to as “# ligand inter-cluster edges”). a Irreversible linearization (“Lin.”) of randomly arranged high-anisotropy nano-blockers facilitates local interconnection between the ligand clusters by ordering them, which partly enhances # ligand inter-cluster edges. b The ligand nodes are initially disconnected by the nano-blockers (“NE.”), which are reconnected via cyclic reversible elevation (“E.”) of anisotropic nano-blockers, thereby escalating # ligand inter-cluster edges. The optimization of minimal polymer linker density used to graft the anisotropic nano-blockers to the material allows the cells to sense the ligands as reconnected under the anisotropic nano-blockers in the elevated state and infiltrate through the nano-gap.