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Mechanically dynamic PDMS substrates to investigate changing cell environments
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Mechanically dynamic PDMS substrates to investigate changing cell environments

Yi-Cheun Yeh, Elise A. Corbin, Steven R. Caliari, Liu Ouyang, Sebastián L. Vega, Rachel Truitt, Lin Han, Kenneth B. Margulies and Jason A. Burdick
Biomaterials, v 145, pp 23-32
Nov 2017
PMID: 28843064
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.08.033View
Accepted (AM)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze) Open

Abstract

Dynamic Elastomer Mechanics Mechanotransduction Photocrosslinking Viscoelasticity
Mechanics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a pivotal role in governing cell behavior, such as cell spreading and differentiation. ECM mechanics have been recapitulated primarily in elastic hydrogels, including with dynamic properties to mimic complex behaviors (e.g., fibrosis); however, these dynamic hydrogels fail to introduce the viscoelastic nature of many tissues. Here, we developed a two-step crosslinking strategy to first form (via platinum-catalyzed crosslinking) networks of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and then to increase PDMS crosslinking (via thiol-ene click reaction) in a temporally-controlled manner. This photoinitiated reaction increased the compressive modulus of PDMS up to 10-fold within minutes and was conducted under cytocompatible conditions. With stiffening, cells displayed increased spreading, changing from ∼1300 to 1900 μm2 and from ∼2700 to 4600 μm2 for fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells, respectively. In addition, higher myofibroblast activation (from ∼2 to 20%) for cardiac fibroblasts was observed with increasing PDMS substrate stiffness. These results indicate a cellular response to changes in PDMS substrate mechanics, along with a demonstration of a mechanically dynamic and photoresponsive PDMS substrate platform to model the dynamic behavior of ECM.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Engineering, Biomedical
Materials Science, Biomaterials
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