Spatiotemporal control of myofibroblast activation in acoustically-responsive scaffolds via ultrasound-induced matrix stiffening.

ABSTRACT: Hydrogels are often used to study the impact of biomechanical and topographical cues on cell behavior. Conventional hydrogels are designed a priori, with characteristics that cannot be dynamically changed in an externally controlled, user-defined manner. We developed a composite hydrogel, termed an acoustically-responsive scaffold (ARS), that enables non-invasive, spatiotemporally controlled modulation of mechanical and morphological properties using focused ultrasound. An ARS consists of a phase-shift emulsion distributed in a fibrin matrix. Ultrasound non-thermally vaporizes the emulsion into bubbles, which induces localized, radial compaction and stiffening of the fibrin matrix. In this in vitro study, we investigate how this mechanism can control the differentiation of fibroblasts into

SUBMITTER: Farrell E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8738148 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature