PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION

2024

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Aligned and Stretched in Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogels

Fouladgar F, Moslabeh FGZ, et al.

Heliyon

University of North Texas

RESEARCH SUMMARY

This study investigates how self-assembling peptide hydrogels can be engineered to align and elongate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through matrix mechanics and microstructural cues. By tuning peptide concentration and hydrogel stiffness, the authors demonstrate controlled MSC alignment, elongation, and cytoskeletal organization within 3D cell-laden matrices. The work highlights how mechanically defined, ECM-mimetic hydrogels can guide stem cell morphology and mechanosensitive responses relevant to regenerative medicine applications.

CellScale MicroTester G2 instrumentation was used to mechanically characterize self-assembling peptide hydrogels via unconfined compression testing. The CellScale system generated stress–strain data and captured time-dependent mechanical responses through load–hold–recovery protocols, enabling quantification of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelastic behavior. These measurements were essential for correlating hydrogel mechanical properties with stem cell alignment and mechanotransductive responses.

AUTHORS

Farzaneh Fouladgar; Forough Ghasem Zadeh Moslabeh; Yashesh Varun Kasani; Nick Rogozinski; Marc Torres; Melanie Ecker; Huaxiao Yang; Yong Yang; Neda Habibi.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Heliyon

YEAR

2024

INSTITUTIONS

University of North Texas

COUNTRIES

United States

INSTRUMENT USED

MicroTester

TESTING METHODS

Compression TestingViscoelastic & Time-Dependent Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

Cell Laden HydrogelsECM & Decellularized Matrix MechanicsHydrogel Mechanical TestingInjectable & Regenerative BiomaterialsMechanotransductionStem Cell Mechanobiology

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