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In Situ Control of Cell Substrate Microtopographies Using Photolabile Hydrogels
Author(s) -
Magin Chelsea M.,
Anseth Kristi S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201201841
Subject(s) - in situ , self healing hydrogels , substrate (aquarium) , mesenchymal stem cell , tissue engineering , nanotechnology , cell , cell function , materials science , biophysics , function (biology) , cell fate determination , chemistry , biological system , microbiology and biotechnology , biomedical engineering , biology , engineering , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gene , polymer chemistry , transcription factor , ecology
Substratum topography can play a significant role in regulating cellular function and fate. To study cellular responses to biophysical cues, researchers have developed dynamic methods for controlling cell morphology; however, many of these platforms are limited to one transition between two predefined substratum topographies. To afford the user additional control over the presentation of microtopographic cues to cell populations, a photolabile, PEG‐based hydrogel system is presented in which precisely engineered topographic cues can be formed in situ by controlled erosion. Here, the ability to produce precisely engineered static microtopographies in the hydrogel surface is first established. Human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) response to topographies with features of subcellular dimensions (∼5 to 40 μm) and with various aspect ratios increasing from 1:1 to infinity (e.g., channels) are quantified, and the dynamic nature of the culture system is demonstrated by sequentially presenting a series of topographies through in situ modifications and quantifying reversible changes in cell morphology in response to substratum topographies altered in real time.