Novel Synthetic Polymer-Based 3D Contraction Assay: A Versatile Preclinical Research Platform for Fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: The driving factors causing fibrosis and scar formation include fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts and hampered myofibroblast apoptosis, which ultimately results in collagen accumulation and tissue contraction. Currently, only very few drugs are available for fibrosis treatment, and there is an urgent demand for new pharmaceutical products. High-throughput in vitro fibrosis models are necessary to develop such drugs. In this study, we developed such a novel model based on synthetic polyisocyanide (PIC-RGD) hydrogels. The model not only measures contraction but also allows for subsequent molecular and cellular analysis. Fibroblasts were seeded in small (10 μL) PIC-RGD gels in the absence or presence of TGFβ1, the latter to induce myofibroblast differentiation. The contrac

SUBMITTER: Kumari J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9073832 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature