Work

Viscoelastic and phototunable GelMA-alginate hydrogels for 3D cell culture

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: In this study, we developed a biocompatible 3D viscoelastic interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel that can be stiffened (increasing in elastic modulus from ~ 1 to ~ 18 kPa) over time. Our approach utilizes a dual-crosslinking strategy. Ionically crosslinked alginate permits stress relaxation of the gel while radical-mediated photocrosslinking of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) enables dynamic stiffening. We found this technique to be cytocompatible with no significant loss of viability of mouse bone marrow stromal cells (MSC). This hydrogel platform is broadly applicable in 3D cell culture systems to better recapitulate the dynamic and time-dependent mechanics of the in vivo extracellular matrix (ECM). Graphical Abstract

Source: MRS Advances

DOI: 10.1557/s43580-024-00815-2

Authors: Gulistan Tansik, Ryan Stowers

Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara

Language: English

Topic: Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications

Subfield: Molecular Medicine

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,190

Funders: National Science Foundation, University of California, Santa Barbara, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, Division of Materials Research