biostudies-literatureZhang YNIH HHS1038https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11504473biostudies-literatureUnknown11(10)Stem cell fate decisions, including proliferation, differentiation, morphological changes, and viability, are impacted by microenvironmental cues such as physical and biochemical signals. However, the specific impact of matrix elasticity on kidney cell development and function remains less understood due to the lack of models that can closely recapitulate human kidney biology. An established protocol to differentiate podocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells provides a promising avenue to elucidate the role of matrix elasticity in kidney tissue development and lineage determination. In this study, we synthesized polyacrylamide hydrogels with different stiffnesses and investigated their ability to promote podocyte differentiation and biomolecular characteristics. We found thBioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)Mechanosensitive Differentiation of Human iPS Cell-Derived Podocytes.PMC11504473DP2DK139544Zhang YMusah SfalseMechanosensitive Differentiation of Human iPS Cell-Derived Podocytes.Stem cell fate decisions, including proliferation, differentiation, morphological changes, and viability, are impacted by microenvironmental cues such as physical and biochemical signals. However, the specific impact of matrix elasticity on kidney cell development and function remains less understood due to the lack of models that can closely recapitulate human kidney biology. An established protocol to differentiate podocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells provides a promising avenue to elucidate the role of matrix elasticity in kidney tissue development and lineage determination. In this study, we synthesized polyacrylamide hydrogels with different stiffnesses and investigated their ability to promote podocyte differentiation and biomolecular characteristics. We found th2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2025-04-04T03:04:19.567Z2025-04-04T03:04:19.567ZS-EPMC115044733945141310.3390/bioengineering11101038