Abstract
In situ forming physical hydrogels are formed through a biologically benign reaction between two multi-arm macromers, one containing terminal thiol and the other containing terminal vinyl sulfone groups. One macromer is self-assembled through a coiled-coil domain; and the physical junction of this macromer confers the physical nature to the whole network. Unlike covalently cross-linked hydrogels in which material degradation is a prerequisite for three-dimensional cell movement, these physical hydrogels have junctions that undergo reversible dissociation and re-association, constitutively opening paths for cell movement. Epithelial cells encapsulated in these hydrogels can form hollow spherical cysts without the need for material degradation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1325-1330 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Macromolecular Bioscience |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 10 2011 |
Keywords
- Artificial extracellular matrices
- Degradation
- Epithelial morphogenesis
- Hydrogels
- Tissue engineering