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Adaptable Fast Relaxing Boronate-Based Hydrogels for Probing Cell-Matrix Interactions.

Shengchang Tang1, Hao Ma1, Hsiu-Chung Tu2

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Tunable viscoelastic hydrogels mimic native tissues. These adaptable materials promote cell interactions and remodeling, offering new tools for studying cell-matrix mechanics and mechanotransduction.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Hydrogels with tunable viscoelasticity are crucial for mimicking native tissue mechanics.
  • Understanding cell-material interactions in dynamic environments is essential for tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop adaptable boronate bond-based hydrogels with tunable viscoelasticity.
  • To investigate the effects of fast-relaxing hydrogel microenvironments on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) behavior and mechanotransduction.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of covalent adaptable boronate bond-based hydrogels.
  • Characterization of hydrogel viscoelastic properties (relaxation time constants).
  • 3D cell encapsulation of hMSCs and assessment of cell-matrix interactions, morphology, and nuclear localization.

Main Results:

  • Hydrogels exhibited fast relaxation (seconds or less) while maintaining stability for cell culture.
  • hMSCs showed enhanced cell-matrix interactions, spreading, and increased nuclear volume.
  • Induction of yes-associated protein/PDZ binding domain nuclear localization in hMSCs over time.
  • Demonstrated that cellular effects were due to physical microenvironment remodeling by hMSCs.

Conclusions:

  • Adaptable boronate bond hydrogels provide a tunable viscoelastic platform for recapitulating tissue mechanics.
  • Fast-relaxing hydrogels promote hMSC mechanotransduction through physical remodeling.
  • This material system offers a valuable tool for studying cell behavior in dynamic viscoelastic environments and matrix biology.