In situ processing of fibrous hydrogels by photochemistry for adaptive cellular microenvironments.

Photochemical regulation of a synthetic fibrous hydrogel enables dynamic control of mechanical properties, influencing cell spreading and mechanotransduction in 3D stromal cell cultures.

• Why it matters: Understanding and manipulating fibrous networks like collagen is crucial because their intrinsic adaptivity affects cell behavior, but their biological complexity makes control difficult.
• What they did: The study developed a highly biomimetic, fibrous hydrogel with photochemical control over its mechanical properties, demonstrated through modulation of cell behavior in 3D mesenchymal stromal cell cultures.
• The result: This approach enables on-demand, mechanically adaptive gels with easy processibility and cell extraction, advancing the design of dynamic cellular microenvironments.