The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a three-dimensional, acellular scaffold of living tissues.
Incorporating the ECM into cell culture models is a goal of cell biology studies and requires biocompatible materials that can mimic the ECM. Among such materials are hydrogels: polymeric networks
that derive most of their mass from water. With the tuning of their properties, these polymer networks
can resemble living tissues. The microarchitectural properties of hydrogels, such as porosity, pore
size, fiber length, and surface topology can determine cell plasticity. The adequate characterization
of these parameters requires reliable and reproducible methods. However, most methods were
historically standardized using other biological specimens, such as 2D cell cultures, biopsies, or
even animal models. Therefore, their translation comes with technical limitations when applied
to hydrogel-based cell culture systems. In our current work, we have reviewed the most common
techniques employed in the characterization of hydrogel microarchitectures. Our review provides a
concise description of the underlying principles of each method and summarizes the collective data
obtained from cell-free and cell-loaded hydrogels. The advantages and limitations of each technique
are discussed, and comparisons are made. The information presented in our current work will be of
interest to researchers who employ hydrogels as platforms for cell culture, 3D bioprinting, and other
fields within hydrogel-based research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:88425 |
| Date | 04 December 2023 |
| Creators | Martinez-Garcia, Francisco Drusso, Fischer, Tony, Hayn, Alexander, Mierke, Claudia Tanja, Burgess, Janette Kay, Harmsen, Martin Conrad |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:article, info:eu-repo/semantics/article, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | 2310-2861, 10.3390/gels8090535 |
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