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Tuning the Elasticity of Biopolymer Gels for Optimal Wound Healing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Penelope Georges ,
Margaret McCormick ,
Lisa Flanagan ,
Yo-El Ju ,
Evelyn Sawyer  and
Paul Janmey
Penelope Georges
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Pennsylvania, Institute for Medicine and Engineering, United States
Margaret McCormick
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Pennsylvania, Institute for Medicine and Engineering, United States
Lisa Flanagan
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of California-Irvine College of Medicine, Pathology, United States
Yo-El Ju
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Pennsylvania, Institute for Medicine and Engineering
Evelyn Sawyer
Affiliation:
[email protected], Sea Run Holdings Inc, Arundel, ME
Paul Janmey
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Pennsylvania, Institute for Medicine and Engineering, United States
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Abstract

Soft polymer networks with large mesh size, not flat rigid surfaces, are the normal environment for most animal cells. Cell structure and function depend on the stiffness of the surfaces on which cells adhere as well as on the type of adhesion complex by which the cell binds its extracellular ligand. Many cell types, including fibroblasts and endothelial cells, switch from a round to spread morphology as stiffness is increased between 1000 and 10,000 Pa. Coincident with the change in morphology are a host of differences in protein phosphorylation levels, expression of integrins, and changes in cytoskeletal protein expression and assembly. In contrast, other cells types such as neutrophils and platelets do not require rigid substrates in order to spread, and neurons extend processes better on soft (50 Pa) materials than on stiffer gels. We compare the stiffness sensing of four cell types: platelets, neurons and astrocytes, a glial cell type derived from embryonic rat brain, and melanoma cells. Astrocytes switch from a round to spread morphology as substrate stiffness increases, but do so over a stiffness range 10 times softer than that over which fibroblasts alter morphology. Stiffness-dependent morphologic changes observed from studies of cells grown on surfaces of protein-laminated polyacrylamide gels that have linear elasticity are also seen when cells are on matrices of natural biopolymers such as fibrin. Biopolymer gels like fibrin can be formed with appropriate stiffness to optimize for neuronal cell survival and patterning, and may have utility for repair of damaged neural tissues. The complex non-linear rheology of fibrin and other gels formed by semi-flexible biopolymers that exhibit strain-stiffening provide additional mechanisms by which cells can respond to and actively remodel the mechanical features of their environment.

Keywords

tissuecellular (material type)elastic properties
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 897: Symposium J – Biomemetic Polymers and Gels , 2005 , 0897-J02-01
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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References

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