Cells sense the mechanical properties of their microenvironment, which undergo significant changes upon injury and disease that can occur over various time scales. Advances in hydrogels with on-demand control of their materials properties allow experimenters to probe the role of outside-in signalling on cellular fate. Here, we explore two different chemistries that enable hydrogel stiffening using cytocompatible photochemical conditions, specifically crosslinking of dibenzocycloocytne (DBCO) groups and dimerization of anthracenes (Ant). Results will demonstrate the benefits of each material systems. Specifically, the DBCO crosslinking is used to explore muscle myoblast mechanotransduction in a dynamic 3-D microenvironment, while the Ant hydrogels are used to explore mechanosensitive pathways in cardiac fibroblasts by tracking their myofibroblast activation in real time.

Photoresponsive hydrogels to study cell-matrix interactions and mechanobiology

2019 Fall National Meeting

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