Photoresponsive Hydrogels with Photoswitchable Mechanical Properties Allow Time-Resolved Analysis of Cellular Responses to Matrix Stiffening.

ABSTRACT: As cell function and phenotype can be directed by the mechanical characteristics of the surrounding matrix, hydrogels have become important platforms for cell culture systems, with properties that can be tuned by external stimuli, such as divalent cations, enzymatic treatment, and pH. However, many of these stimuli can directly affect cell behavior, making it difficult to distinguish purely mechanical signaling events. This study reports on the development of a hydrogel that incorporates photoswitchable cross-linkers, which can reversibly alter their stiffness upon irradiation with the appropriate wavelength of light. Furthermore, this study reports the response of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on these hydrogels that were stiffened systematically by irradiation with bl

SUBMITTER: Lee IN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5864053 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature