Measuring cellular forces using bis-aliphatic hydrazone crosslinked stress-relaxing hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: Studies focused on understanding the role of matrix biophysical signals on cells, especially those when cells are encapsulated in hydrogels that are locally remodelled, are often complicated by appropriate methods to measure differences between the bulk and local material properties. From this perspective, stress-relaxing materials that allow long-term culture of embedded cells provide an opportunity to elucidate aspects of this biophysical signalling. In particular, rheological characterization of the stress relaxation properties allows one to link a bulk material measurement to local aspects of cellular functions by quantifying the corresponding cellular forces that must be applied locally. Here, embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons were encapsulated in a well-characterized covalent

SUBMITTER: McKinnon DD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4445372 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature