Tuning viscoelasticity of dynamic covalent hydrogels for human tissue modeling.

ABSTRACT: The development of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro tissue culture models is critical for biomedical research. Hydrogel-based systems have become a preferred scaffold for 3D models, as they have tunable viscoelastic properties, which are well-known to influence cell morphology and function. In particular, reversible hydrogel crosslinks formed through dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) can introduce viscoelastic behavior including stress relaxation. However, traditional strategies to increase stress-relaxation rates in DCC gels rely on faster bond kinetics, resulting in faster erosion rates that prevent their use for long-term 3D culture. As an alternative strategy, we explore the use of molecular parameters (specifically molecular weight and degree of functionalization) to independentl

SUBMITTER: Narciso NP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12632772 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature