Synthetic Extracellular Matrices with Nonlinear Elasticity Regulate Cellular Organization.

ABSTRACT: One of the promises of synthetic materials in cell culturing is that control over their molecular structures may ultimately be used to control their biological processes. Synthetic polymer hydrogels from polyisocyanides (PIC) are a new class of minimal synthetic biomaterials for three-dimensional cell culturing. The macromolecular lengths and densities of biofunctional groups that decorate the polymer can be readily manipulated while preserving the intrinsic nonlinear mechanics, a feature commonly displayed by fibrous biological networks. In this work, we propose the use of PIC gels as cell culture platforms with decoupled mechanical inputs and biological cues. For this purpose, different types of cells were encapsulated in PIC gels of tailored compositions that systematically vary in adhe

SUBMITTER: Liu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6372982 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature