Hydrogels with Reversible Mechanics to Probe Dynamic Cell Microenvironments

Published

October 4, 2017

Author(s)

Adrianne Rosales, Sebastain Vega, Frank W. DelRio, Jason Burdick, Kristi S. Anseth

Abstract

The relationship between ECM mechanics and cell behavior is dynamic, as cells remodel and respond to changes in their local environment. Most in vitro substrates are static and supraphysiologically stiff; thus, platforms with dynamic and reversible mechanical changes are needed. Here, we developed hyaluronic acid-based substrates capable of sequential photodegradation and photoinitiated crosslinking reactions to "soften" and then "stiffen" the hydrogels over a physiologically-relevant range of moduli. Reversible mechanical signaling to adhered cells was demonstrated with human mesenchymal stem cells. In situ hydrogel softening (from 14 to 3.5 kPa) led to a decrease in cell area and nuclear localization of YAP/TAZ, and subsequent stiffening (from 3.5 to 28 kPa) increased cell area and nuclear localization of YAP/TAZ. Each photoreaction was cytocompatible and tunable, rendering this platform amenable to studies of dynamic mechanics on cell behavior across many cell types and contexts.

Citation

Angewandte Chemie-International Edition

Volume

56

Issue

40

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201705684

Local Download

Keywords

Hydrogels, ECM Mechanics, Atomic Force Microscopy

Citation

Rosales, A. , Vega, S. , DelRio, F. , Burdick, J. and Anseth, K. (2017), Hydrogels with Reversible Mechanics to Probe Dynamic Cell Microenvironments, Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, [online], https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201705684, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=923941 (Accessed April 24, 2024)