Dictated cell adhesion and migration using microfluidic-controlled synthetic hydrogels exhibiting programmable viscoelasticities
Abstract
). Enhanced cell spreading and directional cell migration are observed, with a preference for substrates with tissue-matching viscoelasticity. These mechanosensing reactions are confirmed by traction force microscopy, revealing a tight correlation between native tissue mechano-properties and the hydrogel viscoelastic parameters. We demonstrate that the signaling efficacies of the FAK and associated YAP/TAZ pathways, central regulators of FA formation and cell migration, are tuned by substrate tissue-matching viscoelasticity. We implement these preprogrammed viscoelastic gradient hydrogels as spatiotemporal cell-separation matrices, enabling viscoelasticity-driven migration of binary cell mixtures. This work provides a potent platform for studying cell-material interactions, offering significant potential applications in tissue engineering, immunotherapy, and regenerative medicine.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
Hydrogels: synthesis
properties
applications
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Materials Chemistry B
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 20
- Pages
- 6237–6251
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN