Moxon Samuel R, Richards David, Dobre Oana, Wong Lu Shin, Swift Joe, Richardson Stephen M
Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
The Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Polymers (Basel). 2022 Dec 7;14(24):5338. doi: 10.3390/polym14245338.
Cell function can be directly influenced by the mechanical and structural properties of the extracellular environment. In particular, cell morphology and phenotype can be regulated via the modulation of both the stiffness and surface topography of cell culture substrates. Previous studies have highlighted the ability to design cell culture substrates to optimise cell function. Many such examples, however, employ photo-crosslinkable polymers with a terminal stiffness or surface profile. This study presents a system of polyacrylamide hydrogels, where the surface topography can be tailored and the matrix stiffness can be altered in situ with photoirradiation. The process allows for the temporal regulation of the extracellular environment. Specifically, the surface topography can be tailored via reticulation parameters to include creased features with control over the periodicity, length and branching. The matrix stiffness can also be dynamically tuned via exposure to an appropriate dosage and wavelength of light, thus, allowing for the temporal regulation of the extracellular environment. When cultured on the surface of the hydrogels, the morphology and alignment of immortalised human mesenchymal stem cells can be directly influenced through the tailoring of surface creases, while cell size can be altered via changes in matrix stiffness. This system offers a new platform to study cellular mechanosensing and the influence of extracellular cues on cell phenotype and function.
细胞功能会受到细胞外环境的机械和结构特性的直接影响。具体而言，细胞形态和表型可通过调节细胞培养底物的硬度和表面形貌来调控。先前的研究突出了设计细胞培养底物以优化细胞功能的能力。然而，许多此类例子采用的是具有特定硬度或表面轮廓的可光交联聚合物。本研究展示了一种聚丙烯酰胺水凝胶系统，其中表面形貌可进行定制，且基质硬度可通过光照射原位改变。该过程实现了对细胞外环境的时间调控。具体来说，表面形貌可通过网状化参数进行定制，以包括具有对周期性、长度和分支控制的褶皱特征。基质硬度也可通过暴露于适当剂量和波长的光进行动态调节，从而实现对细胞外环境的时间调控。当在水凝胶表面培养时，永生化人骨髓间充质干细胞的形态和排列可通过定制表面褶皱直接受到影响，而细胞大小可通过基质硬度的变化而改变。该系统为研究细胞机械传感以及细胞外信号对细胞表型和功能的影响提供了一个新平台。
