Anisotropic liquid crystalline hydrogels direct 2D and 3D myoblast alignment.

ABSTRACT: Tissue development and regeneration are governed by processes that span subcellular signaling, cell-cell interactions, and the integrated mechanical properties of cellular collectives with their extracellular matrix. Synthetic biomaterials that can emulate the hierarchical structure and supracellular mechanics of living systems are paramount to the realization of regenerative medicine. Recent reports detail directed cell alignment on mechanically anisotropic but stiff liquid crystalline polymer networks (LCNs). While compelling, the potential implementation of these materials as tissue engineering scaffolds may be hindered by the orders of magnitude larger stiffness than most soft tissue. Accordingly, this report prepares liquid crystalline hydrogels (LCHs) that synergize the anisotropic m

SUBMITTER: Skillin NP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12356246 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature