A Balance between Inter- and Intra-Microgel Mechanics Governs Stem Cell Viability in Injectable Dynamic Granular Hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: Injectable hydrogels are increasingly explored for the delivery of cells to tissue. These materials exhibit both liquid-like properties, protecting cells from mechanical stress during injection, and solid-like properties, providing a stable 3D engraftment niche. Many strategies for modulating injectable hydrogels tune liquid- and solid-like material properties simultaneously, such that formulation changes designed to improve injectability can reduce stability at the delivery site. The ability to independently tune liquid- and solid-like properties would greatly facilitate formulation development. Here, such a strategy is presented in which cells are ensconced in the pores between microscopic granular hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels (microgels), where elasticity is tuned with static covalent

SUBMITTER: Morley CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10841739 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature