Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels
10:19

Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels

Published on: August 10, 2010

Studying the effects of matrix stiffness on cellular function using acrylamide-based hydrogels.

Alexandra Cretu1, Paola Castagnino, Richard Assoian

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania-School of Medicine, USA.

Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|August 26, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed tunable polyacrylamide hydrogels to mimic in vivo tissue stiffness for cell culture. This approach allows for precise control over substrate elasticity, crucial for studying diseases like fibrosis and cancer.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Thromboangiitis Obliterans of the Colon: An Unusual Manifestation of Buerger's Disease.

The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ·2026
Same author

Prediction of OncotypeDX recurrence score using hematoxylin and eosin-stained whole slide images.

NPJ breast cancer·2026
Same author

Deep learning on histopathological images to predict breast cancer recurrence risk and chemotherapy benefit: a multicentre, model development and validation study.

The Lancet. Oncology·2026
Same author

Deep Learning on Histopathological Images to Predict Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk and Chemotherapy Benefit.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2025
Same author

Clinical utility of receptor status prediction in breast cancer and misdiagnosis identification using deep learning on hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides.

Communications medicine·2024
Same author

Deep learning-based image analysis predicts PD-L1 status from H&E-stained histopathology images in breast cancer.

Nature communications·2022

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Tissue stiffness significantly influences cellular functions and is implicated in diseases such as fibrosis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
  • Conventional cell culture on rigid substrates (plastic, glass) fails to replicate the in vivo extracellular matrix (ECM) elasticity and tissue-specific stiffness variations.
  • Mimicking in vivo tissue compliance in vitro is essential for accurate cellular studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a method for creating tunable polyacrylamide hydrogels that replicate the stiffness range of biological tissues.
  • To enable in vitro studies of cellular behavior under physiologically relevant mechanical conditions.
  • To provide a platform for investigating the role of tissue stiffness in disease.

Main Methods:

More Related Videos

Simple Polyacrylamide-based Multiwell Stiffness Assay for the Study of Stiffness-dependent Cell Responses
07:45

Simple Polyacrylamide-based Multiwell Stiffness Assay for the Study of Stiffness-dependent Cell Responses

Published on: March 25, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels
10:19

Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels

Published on: August 10, 2010

Simple Polyacrylamide-based Multiwell Stiffness Assay for the Study of Stiffness-dependent Cell Responses
07:45

Simple Polyacrylamide-based Multiwell Stiffness Assay for the Study of Stiffness-dependent Cell Responses

Published on: March 25, 2015

  • Polyacrylamide hydrogels were fabricated using acrylamide (AC) and bis-acrylamide (Bis-AC) with varying concentrations to achieve desired stiffness.
  • Surface functionalization involved NaOH treatment, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-APTMS) silanization, and glutaraldehyde crosslinking.
  • N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) incorporation facilitated covalent attachment of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (e.g., fibronectin, collagen) to the hydrogel surface.
  • Hydrogel stiffness was quantified using rheology or atomic force microscopy (AFM) and adjusted by modifying AC/Bis-AC ratios.
  • Cells were seeded onto ECM-coated hydrogels with defined stiffness for culture and subsequent analysis.

Main Results:

  • Tunable polyacrylamide hydrogels were successfully fabricated, mimicking a wide range of biological tissue compliances.
  • Hydrogel stiffness could be precisely controlled by adjusting the percentage of AC and/or Bis-AC.
  • The method allows for the quantification of both hydrogel and native tissue stiffness using rheology or AFM.
  • Cells cultured on these tunable substrates can be easily imaged and recovered for molecular analysis.

Conclusions:

  • ECM-coated polyacrylamide hydrogels provide a versatile and controllable platform for studying cell behavior on substrates with physiologically relevant stiffness.
  • This approach overcomes limitations of traditional rigid cell culture substrates, offering a more accurate model for investigating mechanobiology.
  • The ability to match substrate stiffness to specific tissue types is critical for understanding disease mechanisms and developing targeted therapies.