Decidua inspired 3D hydrogel-promotes in vitro embryo development (PRJCA030681)
The in vitro culture of embryos holds considerable importance for both fundamental scientific research and practical applications. Emerging evidence indicates that the growth, differentiation, and morphogenesis of embryos during embryonic development are influenced not only by their biochemical microenvironments but also by their physical microenvironments, particularly viscoelastic properties. However, there remains a notable gap in research concerning the impact of viscoelastic microenvironments on simulating embryo-uterine interactions in vitro. Therefore, Guo et al. demonstrated that viscoelasticity influences the formation of initial focal adhesions (FAs) between trophectoderm (TE) cells and hydrogel, thereby enhancing embryo growth and development. Additionally, the viscoelastic microenvironment has been shown to facilitate the progression of in vitro cultured embryos to the early stage of organogenesis, leading to the development of the first and second heart regions.