Light-Intensity-Dependent Control of Collagen Hydrogel Properties via Riboflavin Phosphate-Mediated Photocrosslinking.

While photocrosslinked collagen hydrogels show promise in tissue engineering, conventional approaches for property control often require complex chemical modifications or concentration changes that alter their biochemical composition. Here, we present the first systematic investigation of light-intensity-dependent control in riboflavin phosphate (RFP)-mediated photocrosslinking as a novel, single-parameter approach to modulate hydrogel properties while preserving native biochemical environments. We systematically investigated the effects of varying light intensities (100 K, 50 K, and 10 K lux) during hydrogel fabrication through comprehensive structural, mechanical, and biological characterization.

Spheroid-Hydrogel-Integrated Biomimetic System: A New Frontier in Advanced Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Technology.

Background: Despite significant advances in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture technologies, creating accurate in vitro models that faithfully recapitulate complex in vivo environments remains a major challenge in biomedical research. Traditional culture methods often fail to simultaneously facilitate critical cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions while providing control over mechanical and biochemical properties.

Summary: This review introduces the spheroid-hydrogel-integrated biomimetic system (SHIBS), a groundbreaking approach that synergistically combines spheroid culture with tailored hydrogel technologies.