TY - JOUR A1 - Mayer, Matthias A1 - Rabindranath, Raman A1 - Börner, Juliane A1 - Hörner, Eva A1 - Bentz, Alexander A1 - Salgado, Josefina A1 - Han, Hong A1 - Böse, Holger A1 - Probst, Jörn A1 - Shamonin, Mikhail A1 - Monkman, Gereth J. A1 - Schlunck, Günther T1 - Ultra-Soft PDMS-Based Magnetoactive Elastomers as Dynamic Cell Culture Substrata T2 - PLOS ONE N2 - Mechanical cues such as extracellular matrix stiffness and movement have a major impact on cell differentiation and function. To replicate these biological features in vitro, soft substrata with tunable elasticity and the possibility for controlled surface translocation are desirable. Here we report on the use of ultra-soft (Young's modulus <100 kPa) PDMS-based magnetoactive elastomers (MAE) as suitable cell culture substrata. Soft non-viscous PDMS (<18 kPa) is produced using a modified extended crosslinker. MAEs are generated by embedding magnetic microparticles into a soft PDMS matrix. Both substrata yield an elasticity-dependent (14 vs. 100 kPa) modulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in primary human fibroblasts. To allow for static or dynamic control of MAE material properties, we devise low magnetic field (approximate to 40 mT) stimulation systems compatible with cell-culture environments. Magnetic field-instigated stiffening (14 to 200 kPa) of soft MAE enhances the spreading of primary human fibroblasts and decreases PAX-7 transcription in human mesenchymal stem cells. Pulsatile MAE movements are generated using oscillating magnetic fields and are well tolerated by adherent human fibroblasts. This MAE system provides spatial and temporal control of substratum material characteristics and permits novel designs when used as dynamic cell culture substrata or cell culture-coated actuator in tissue engineering applications or biomedical devices. KW - elastic magnetic-materials KW - smooth muscle actin KW - magnetorheological elastomers KW - adhesion KW - mechanotransduction KW - stiffness KW - tension KW - mechanics KW - hydrogels KW - behavior Y1 - 2013 UR - https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/12824 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-128246 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 8 IS - 10 ER -