Hydrogels for Probing the Influence of Microenvironment Structure and Chemistry On Cell Function

Cell-cell and cell-material interactions play an important role in directing cellular processes such as cytoskeletal organization, migration, and differentiation. To probe the influence of these interactions on cell function, polymer-based, three-dimensional cell culture platforms have emerged, which offer control of the cellular microenvironment for examining its influence on cell function in vitro. In my research program, biomaterials and hydrogels that offer control of the physical and chemical structures within the microenvironment will be developed. For example, photolabile moieties have been incorporated within the gel backbone to allow real-time, in situ tuning of the gel structure and chemistry in the presence of cells. These gel systems will enable the experimentalist to precisely test the effect of an individual cue on cell function in both space and time.