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Hydrogels with Reversible Mechanics to Probe Dynamic Cell Microenvironments

Published

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

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 December 10, 2024)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact reflib@nist.gov.

Created October 3, 2017, Updated October 12, 2021