AI Article Synopsis
- Thin hydrogel films made from an ABA triblock copolymer gelator were created to modify the mechanical environment for mouse myoblast cells in a controlled way.
- These films could change elasticity significantly through pH adjustments, allowing researchers to study cell behavior without harming the cells.
- By using a picosecond laser technique, the study measured how strongly cells adhered to the hydrogel, and showed that sudden changes in elasticity influence how cells adapt their shape.
Article Abstract
Thin hydrogel films based on an ABA triblock copolymer gelator [where A is pH-sensitive poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDPA) and B is biocompatible poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC)] were used as a stimulus-responsive substrate that allows fine adjustment of the mechanical environment experienced by mouse myoblast cells. The hydrogel film elasticity could be reversibly modulated by a factor of 40 via careful pH adjustment without adversely affecting cell viability. Myoblast cells exhibited pronounced stress fiber formation and flattening on increasing the hydrogel elasticity. As a new tool to evaluate the strength of cell adhesion, we combined a picosecond laser with an inverted microscope and utilized the strong shock wave created by the laser pulse to determine the critical pressure required for cell detachment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that an abrupt jump in the hydrogel elasticity can be utilized to monitor how cells adapt their morphology to changes in their mechanical environment.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja1060615 | DOI Listing |
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