Tunable Mesoscopic Collagen Island Architectures Modulate Stem Cell Behavior.

ABSTRACT: The extracellular matrix is the biophysical environment that scaffolds mammalian cells in the body. The main constituent is collagen. In physiological tissues, collagen network topology is diverse with complex mesoscopic features. While studies have explored the roles of collagen density and stiffness, the impact of complex architectures remains not well-understood. Developing in vitro systems that recapitulate these diverse collagen architectures is critical for understanding physiologically relevant cell behaviors. Here, methods are developed to induce the formation of heterogeneous mesoscopic architectures, referred to as collagen islands, in collagen hydrogels. These island-containing gels have highly tunable inclusions and mechanical properties. Although these gels are globally soft,

SUBMITTER: Nguyen RY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10166061 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature