Hydrogel platform capable of molecularly resolved pulling on cells for mechanotransduction

Nan Cheng; Yile Zhang; Yukai Wu; Bohan Li; Hong Wang; Shaojie Chen; Peng Zhao; Jiaxi Cui; Xiaoqin Shen; Xingjun Zhu; Yijun Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100476

Hydrogel platform capable of molecularly resolved pulling on cells for mechanotransduction

Mater Today Bio. 2022 Nov 4:17:100476. doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100476. eCollection 2022 Dec 15.

Authors

Nan Cheng¹, Yile Zhang¹, Yukai Wu¹, Bohan Li¹, Hong Wang², Shaojie Chen¹, Peng Zhao¹, Jiaxi Cui², Xiaoqin Shen¹, Xingjun Zhu¹, Yijun Zheng¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, PR China.
² Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, PR China.

Abstract

The active forces exerted from the extracellular matrix (ECM) to mechanoreceptors have crucial impact on many cell functions and disease development. However, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms is held back due to the lack of ECM mimicking platform able to apply molecularly resolved forces to cells. Herein, we present novel hydrogel platform capable of generate pN range forces to specific cellular receptors, at molecular scale. This capability was achieved through near-infrared (NIR) light regulated macromolecular actuators functionalized within the platform. This platform enables us to reveal cell responses to molecularly resolved forces under controlled magnitude (150-400 pN) and frequency (up to 100 Hz) on matrix with varied stiffness. We find the stiffness of the matrix has a large influence on the applied force transduction to cells. This versatile platform holds the potential for establishing correlation between receptor signaling pathways and cellular responses closer to physiological conditions.

Keywords: Cell-ECM interaction; Hydrogel platform; Macromolecular actuator; Mechanotransduction; Near-infrared light.