Multisized Photoannealable Microgels Regulate Cell Spreading, Aggregation, and Macrophage Phenotype through Microporous Void Space.

Microgels are an emerging platform for in vitro models and guiding cell fate due to their inherent porosity and tunability. This work describes a light-based technique for rapidly annealing microgels across a range of diameters. Utilizing 8-arm poly(ethylene) glycol-vinyl sulfone, the number of arms available for crosslinking, functionalization, and annealing is stoichiometrically controlled.