Optomechanically Actuated Hydrogel Platform for Cell Stimulation with Spatial and Temporal Resolution

• DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00516
• Publication Date: 2023-08-22T02:14:35Z
• Authors: Allison N. Ramey-...; Yixiao Dong; Jin Yang; Hiroaki Ogasawara; Elizabeth C. Brem...; Olga Brazhkina; Christian Franck; Michael Davis; Khalid Salaita
• Keywords: mechanobiology; C2C12; Nanorod; Gelatin

Cells exist in the body mechanically dynamic environments, yet vast majority of vitro cell culture is conducted on static materials such as plastic dishes and gels. To address this limitation, we report an approach to transition widely used hydrogels into active substrates by doping optomechanical actuator (OMA) nanoparticles within polymer matrix. OMAs are composed gold nanorods surrounded a thermoresponsive shell that rapidly collapses upon near-infrared (NIR) illumination. As proof concept, crosslinked laminin-gelatin hydrogels, generating up 5 μm deformations triggered NIR pulsing. This response was tunable intensity OMA density gel generalizable other hydrogel materials. Hydrogel mechanical stimulation enhanced myogenesis C2C12 myoblasts evidenced ERK signaling, myocyte fusion, sarcomeric myosin expression. We also demonstrate rescued differentiation chronic inflammation model result stimulation. work establishes OMA-actuated biomaterials powerful tool for manipulation with broad applications field mechanobiology.