Bridging 2D and 3D culture: probing impact of extracellular environment on fibroblast activation in layered hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: Many cell behaviors are significantly affected by cell culture geometry, though it remains unclear which geometry from two- to three-dimensional (2D to 3D) culture is appropriate for probing a specific cell function and mimicking native microenvironments. Toward addressing this, we established a 2.5D culture geometry, enabling initial cell spreading while reducing polarization to bridge between 2D and 3D geometries, and examined the responses of wound healing cells, human pulmonary fibroblasts, within it. To achieve this, we used engineered biomimetic hydrogels formed by photopolymerization, creating robust layered hydrogels with spread fibroblasts at the interface. We found that fibroblast responses were similar between 2D and 2.5D culture and different from 3D culture, with some underlyi

SUBMITTER: Smithmyer ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7480898 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature