StemBond hydrogels control the mechanical microenvironment for pluripotent stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Studies of mechanical signalling are typically performed by comparing cells cultured on soft and stiff hydrogel-based substrates. However, it is challenging to independently and robustly control both substrate stiffness and extracellular matrix tethering to substrates, making matrix tethering a potentially confounding variable in mechanical signalling investigations. Moreover, unstable matrix tethering can lead to poor cell attachment and weak engagement of cell adhesions. To address this, we developed StemBond hydrogels, a hydrogel in which matrix tethering is robust and can be varied independently of stiffness. We validate StemBond hydrogels by showing that they provide an optimal system for culturing mouse and human pluripotent stem cells. We further show how soft StemBond hydrogels mod

SUBMITTER: Labouesse C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8531294 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature