Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm), which is a well-known temperature-responsive polymer, is modified on substrates by various methods. At 37 degrees C, PIPAAm modified surface is hydrophobic and allows cells to adhere to and proliferate on the surface. By reducing temperature below the lower critical solution temperature of PIPAAm, the surface turns to hydrophilic and allows cells to detach themselves from the surface spontaneously. With this technology, cell sheet engineering is established several years ago. This review focuses on the preparations and characteristics of PIPAAm-modified surfaces, and discusses the effect of surface properties on cell adhesion and deadhesion. In addition, the recent improvement of PIPAAm-modified surfaces for cell culture and the clinical applications of cell sheets harvested from the surfaces are also mentioned. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.