An In Situ Tunable Hydrogel System for Mechanobiology Studies
Abstract
This project aims to investigate the mechanosensitivity of pancreatic beta cells and its crucial role in the development and/or progression of diabetes. It has been shown that cellular functions are highly dependent on their physical environments, e.g., tissue stiffness, as well as biochemical cues. However, the technology necessary to understand the dynamic physicobiology of pancreatic cells is not currently available. To address this lack of technology, we developed an in situ adjustable hydrogel system, a composite hydrogel made of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), incorporated with magnetic nanorods (Fe3O4@SiO2@MPS) to enable dynamic, on-demand control over tissue stiffness. Using this system, we investigated how alterations in the mechanical microenvironment affect the behaviors of mouse insulinoma 6 (MIN6) beta cells. By unraveling the mechanistic interplay between cellular mechanosensitivity and diabetes, this research offers a promising pathway for targeted therapeutic interventions. Thus, the insights gained from this study could potentially pave the way for novel strategies to manage and treat diabetes effectively.