Publications

The 3-D Life Hydrogel system was used to generate hydrogels with irregular shaped pores with controlled variations in local stiffness at microscale dimensions (heterogenous hydrogels) while keeping the overall stiffness similar to hydrogels with pores of continuous and smooth curvature (homogeneous hydrogels). Applying these hydrogels to MSC cultures the authors show that cell deformability increases when cells are cultured in heterogenous hydrogels versus homogenous hydrogels. Subsequent injection of cells in mice revealed a different distribution of cells in organs depending on their deformability and ability to pass different sizes of capillaries. The authors suggest that the destination of microcirculation could be regulated by fine-tuning cell mechanics in vitro, which, potentially, could be used in MSC therapy targeting organ lesions.