Cyclic Stiffness Modulation of Cell-Laden Protein-Polymer Hydrogels in Response to User-Specified Stimuli including Light.

ABSTRACT: Although mechanical signals presented by the extracellular matrix are known to regulate many essential cell functions, the specific effects of these interactions, particularly in response to dynamic and heterogeneous cues, remain largely unknown. Here, we introduce a modular semisynthetic approach to create protein-polymer hydrogel biomaterials that undergo reversible stiffening in response to user-specified inputs. Employing a novel dual-chemoenzymatic modification strategy, we create fusion protein-based gel crosslinkers that exhibit stimuli-dependent intramolecular association. Linkers based on calmodulin yield calcium-sensitive materials, while those containing the photosensitive LOV2 (light, oxygen, and voltage sensing domain 2) protein give phototunable constructs whose moduli can be

SUBMITTER: Liu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8312699 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature