Cytoskeletal stiffening in synthetic hydrogels

Paula de Almeida, Maarten Jaspers, Sarah Vaessen, Oya Tagit, Giuseppe Portale, Alan E. Rowan and Paul H. J. Kouwer ()
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Paula de Almeida: Institute for Molecules and Materials
Maarten Jaspers: Institute for Molecules and Materials
Sarah Vaessen: Institute for Molecules and Materials
Oya Tagit: Radboud University Medical Centre, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Tumor Immunology
Giuseppe Portale: University of Groningen, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Alan E. Rowan: Institute for Molecules and Materials
Paul H. J. Kouwer: Institute for Molecules and Materials

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Although common in biology, controlled stiffening of hydrogels in vitro is difficult to achieve; the required stimuli are commonly large and/or the stiffening amplitudes small. Here, we describe the hierarchical mechanics of ultra-responsive hybrid hydrogels composed of two synthetic networks, one semi-flexible and stress-responsive, the other flexible and thermoresponsive. Heating collapses the flexible network, which generates internal stress that causes the hybrid gel to stiffen up to 50 times its original modulus; an effect that is instantaneous and fully reversible. The average generated forces amount to ~1 pN per network fibre, which are similar to values found for stiffening resulting from myosin molecular motors in actin. The excellent control, reversible nature and large response gives access to many biological and bio-like applications, including tissue engineering with truly dynamic mechanics and life-like matter.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08569-4

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