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 Concept Videos

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue. 
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Combining Supramolecular and Covalent Chemistry to Form Reinforced Fibrillar Network Hydrogels From Fibrinogen Derivatives.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A·2026
Same author

Injectable Hydrogel-Based Delivery of Soluble Cripto Protein Enhances Repair After Skeletal Muscle Injury.

ACS biomaterials science & engineering·2026
Same author

Evaluating Cross-Linking Efficiency and Cytocompatibility of Three Commonly Used Photoinitiators across Different Cell-Compatible Hydrogel Platforms.

Biomacromolecules·2025
Same author

Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogel Composition Alters Encapsulated MSC Spreading and In Vivo Degradation Behavior.

ACS biomaterials science & engineering·2025
Same author

Macrophages producing chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-4 induce neuro-cardiac junction impairment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The Journal of pathology·2024
Same author

Injectable PLGA Microscaffolds with Laser-Induced Enhanced Microporosity for Nucleus Pulposus Cell Delivery.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 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

Time-dependent cellular morphogenesis and matrix stiffening in proteolytically responsive hydrogels.

Dafna Kesselman1, Olga Kossover, Iris Mironi-Harpaz

  • 1Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.

Acta Biomaterialia
|April 30, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Cells in hydrogel scaffolds actively remodel their environment, leading to matrix stiffening, not softening, through a balance of degradation and synthesis. This dynamic process is crucial for cell-mediated reorganization in 3-D cultures.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Hydroxy-PAAm Hydrogels for Decoupling the Effects of Mechanotransduction Cues
11:31

Preparation of Hydroxy-PAAm Hydrogels for Decoupling the Effects of Mechanotransduction Cues

Published on: August 28, 2014

3D Bioprinting Phototunable Hydrogels to Study Fibroblast Activation
07:17

3D Bioprinting Phototunable Hydrogels to Study Fibroblast Activation

Published on: June 30, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 11, 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

Preparation of Hydroxy-PAAm Hydrogels for Decoupling the Effects of Mechanotransduction Cues
11:31

Preparation of Hydroxy-PAAm Hydrogels for Decoupling the Effects of Mechanotransduction Cues

Published on: August 28, 2014

3D Bioprinting Phototunable Hydrogels to Study Fibroblast Activation
07:17

3D Bioprinting Phototunable Hydrogels to Study Fibroblast Activation

Published on: June 30, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Engineering
  • Cell Biology
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) interact dynamically with their microenvironment.
  • Understanding cell-matrix interactions is key for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
  • Hydrogel scaffolds offer tunable environments for studying these interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between cell-mediated matrix remodeling and changes in hydrogel mechanical properties.
  • To document the transient degradation and restructuring of fibroblasts within hydrogel scaffolds.
  • To elucidate the balance between proteolysis and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis during cell-driven scaffold remodeling.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized semi-synthetic, proteolytically degradable polyethylene glycol-fibrinogen (PF) hydrogel scaffolds.
  • Seeded scaffolds with neonatal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) for 7 days of culture.
  • Employed in situ and ex situ rheology to measure gel stiffening.
  • Used confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to assess cell morphogenesis.
  • Included fibrin hydrogels, acellular, and non-viable hydrogels as controls.

Main Results:

  • Contrary to assumptions, PF hydrogels exhibited cell-mediated stiffening, with a four-fold increase in storage modulus after 1 week.
  • Cell morphogenesis and network formation were observed within the hydrogels.
  • Control experiments confirmed that matrix remodeling was cell-mediated, involving collagen deposition and proteolysis.
  • Fibrin hydrogels showed remodeling only with protease inhibition, highlighting the role of endogenous proteases.

Conclusions:

  • Cells actively remodel proteolytically responsive hydrogel scaffolds, leading to matrix stiffening.
  • This stiffening is concurrent with dynamic cell morphogenesis and network formation.
  • Cells maintain a balance between proteolysis and ECM synthesis to achieve this remodeling.
  • Findings challenge the notion of matrix softening during cell-mediated degradation and emphasize active matrix synthesis.