Structural characterization of fibrous synthetic hydrogels using fluorescence microscopy
(2020) In Soft Matter 16(17). p.4210-4219- Abstract
The structural features of the matrix surrounding the cells play a crucial role in regulating their behavior. Here, we used fluorescence microscopy and customized analysis algorithms to characterize the architecture of fibrous hydrogel networks. As a model system, we investigated a new class of synthetic biomimetic material, hydrogels prepared from polyisocyanides. Our results show that these synthetic gels present a highly heterogeneous fibrous network, with pores reaching a few micrometers in diameter. By encapsulating HeLa cells in different hydrogels, we show that a more porous structure is linked to a higher proliferation rate. The approach described here, for the characterization of the network of fibrous hydrogels, can be easily... (More)
The structural features of the matrix surrounding the cells play a crucial role in regulating their behavior. Here, we used fluorescence microscopy and customized analysis algorithms to characterize the architecture of fibrous hydrogel networks. As a model system, we investigated a new class of synthetic biomimetic material, hydrogels prepared from polyisocyanides. Our results show that these synthetic gels present a highly heterogeneous fibrous network, with pores reaching a few micrometers in diameter. By encapsulating HeLa cells in different hydrogels, we show that a more porous structure is linked to a higher proliferation rate. The approach described here, for the characterization of the network of fibrous hydrogels, can be easily applied to other polymer-based materials and provide new insights into the influence of structural features in cell behavior. This knowledge is crucial to develop the next generation of biomimetic materials for 3D cell models and tissue engineering applications.
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- author
- Vandaele, Johannes ; Louis, Boris LU ; Liu, Kaizheng ; Camacho, Rafael ; Kouwer, Paul H.J. and Rocha, Susana
- organization
- publishing date
- 2020-05-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Soft Matter
- volume
- 16
- issue
- 17
- pages
- 10 pages
- publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85084379560
- pmid:32292943
- ISSN
- 1744-683X
- DOI
- 10.1039/c9sm01828j
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 31e86734-246d-4249-be13-97c34d70c63a
- date added to LUP
- 2020-06-09 09:41:42
- date last changed
- 2024-04-17 10:08:06
@article{31e86734-246d-4249-be13-97c34d70c63a,
abstract = {{<p>The structural features of the matrix surrounding the cells play a crucial role in regulating their behavior. Here, we used fluorescence microscopy and customized analysis algorithms to characterize the architecture of fibrous hydrogel networks. As a model system, we investigated a new class of synthetic biomimetic material, hydrogels prepared from polyisocyanides. Our results show that these synthetic gels present a highly heterogeneous fibrous network, with pores reaching a few micrometers in diameter. By encapsulating HeLa cells in different hydrogels, we show that a more porous structure is linked to a higher proliferation rate. The approach described here, for the characterization of the network of fibrous hydrogels, can be easily applied to other polymer-based materials and provide new insights into the influence of structural features in cell behavior. This knowledge is crucial to develop the next generation of biomimetic materials for 3D cell models and tissue engineering applications.</p>}},
author = {{Vandaele, Johannes and Louis, Boris and Liu, Kaizheng and Camacho, Rafael and Kouwer, Paul H.J. and Rocha, Susana}},
issn = {{1744-683X}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{05}},
number = {{17}},
pages = {{4210--4219}},
publisher = {{Royal Society of Chemistry}},
series = {{Soft Matter}},
title = {{Structural characterization of fibrous synthetic hydrogels using fluorescence microscopy}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9sm01828j}},
doi = {{10.1039/c9sm01828j}},
volume = {{16}},
year = {{2020}},
}