title: Fabricating gradient hydrogel scaffolds for 3D cell culture.
abstract: Optimizing cell-material interactions is critical for maximizing regeneration in tissue engineering. Combinatorial and high-throughput (CHT) methods can be used to systematically screen tissue scaffolds to identify optimal biomaterial properties. Previous CHT platforms in tissue engineering have involved a two-dimensional (2D) cell culture format where cells were cultured on material surfaces. However, these platforms are inadequate to predict cellular response in a three-dimensional (3D) tissue scaffold. We have developed a simple CHT platform to screen cell-material interactions in 3D culture format that can be applied to screen hydrogel scaffolds. Herein we provide detailed instructions on a method to prepare gradients in elastic modulus of photopolymerizable hydrogels.
authors.affiliation: Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA. carl.simon@nist.gov
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Marian F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Carl G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014343:Trypan Blue / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; C450003:poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate polymer; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014343:Trypan Blue