Facile one-step micropatterning using photodegradable gelatin hydrogels for improved cardiomyocyte organization and alignment

Hydrogels are often employed as temporary platforms for cell proliferation
and tissue organization in vitro. Researchers have incorporated photodegradable
(PD) moieties into synthetic polymeric hydrogels as a means of
achieving spatiotemporal control over material properties. In this study
protein-based PD hydrogels composed of methacrylated gelatin and a
crosslinker containing o -nitrobenzyl ester groups are developed. The hydrogels
are able to degrade rapidly and specifi cally in response to UV light and
can be photopatterned to a variety of shapes and dimensions in a one-step
process. Micropatterned PD hydrogels are shown to improve cell distribution,
alignment, and beating regularity of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.
Overall this work introduces a new class of PD hydrogel based on
natural and biofunctional polymers as cell culture substrates for improving
cellular organization and function.