Stimulus-Responsive, Gelatin-Containing Supramolecular Nanofibers as Switchable 3D Microenvironments for Cells

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics are crucial for understanding cell behavior.
• Stimulus-responsive biomaterials offer dynamic control over the cellular microenvironment.
• Gelatin-based nanofibers show promise for cell adhesion applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate stimulus-responsive nanofibers emulating the dynamic in vivo cellular microenvironment.
• To create tunable nanofibers using gelatin and supramolecular crosslinks.
• To investigate the potential of these fibers for biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of two classes of nanofibers: pre-conjugation and post-conjugation methods.
• Incorporation of gelatin for cell adhesion and supramolecular crosslinks for dynamic stiffness.
• Utilizing host-guest chemistry for reversible Young's modulus switching.
• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nano-indentation for mechanical characterization.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated gelatin-based nanofibers with supramolecular crosslinks.
• Demonstrated reversible switching of Young's modulus between 2-3 kPa and 0.2-0.3 kPa.
• Confirmed that additive concentrations do not affect cell viability.

Conclusions:

• The developed supramolecular fibers provide a dynamic and tunable cell culture matrix.
• These nanofibers are promising for standardized 3D culture and regulating stem cell differentiation.
• The study highlights the potential of supramolecular chemistry in designing advanced biomaterials.