Determination of the rheological properties of Matrigel for optimum seeding conditions in microfluidic cell cultures

Abstract

Hydrogels are increasingly used as a surrogate extracellular matrix in three-dimensional cell culture systems, including microfluidic cell culture. Matrigel is a hydrogel of natural origin widely used in cell culture, particularly in the culture of stem cell-derived cell lines. The use of Matrigel as a surrogate extracellular matrix in microfluidic systems is challenging due to its biochemical, biophysical, and biomechanical properties. Therefore, understanding and characterising these properties is a prerequisite for optimal use of Matrigel in microfluidic systems. We used rheological measurements and particle image velocimetry to characterise the fluid flow dynamics of liquefied Matrigel during loading into a three-dimensional microfluidic cell culture device. Using fluorescence microscopy and fluorescent beads for particle image velocimetry measurements (velocity profiles) in combination with classical rheological measurements of Matrigel (viscosity versus shear rate), we characterised the shear rates experienced by cells in a microfluidic device for three-dimensional cell culture. This study provides a better understanding of the mechanical stress experienced by cells, during seeding of a mixture of hydrogel and cells, into three-dimensional microfluidic cell culture devices.

Bioprinting of Matrigel Scaffolds for Cancer Research

“…Considering the effect of temperature on Matrigel ® crosslinking, the first step was the investigation of the effects of the thermal history the material undergoes before bioprinting. By increasing temperature from 2 to 37 °C at 5 °C/min, we identified the gelation point, as point of crossover between the conservative (G’) and dissipative (G”) components of the complex shear modulus around 6 °C, which is in line with the work of Kane et al [ 25 ]. Below this value, Matrigel ® is in liquid-state, while above it, it starts exhibiting a solid-like behaviour.…”

Mechanical Oscillations in 2D Collective Cell Migration: The Elastic Turbulence

“…Various hydrogel matrices have been used as a substrate for cell migration. The rheological behavior of hydrogels frequently corresponds to a poroviscoelasticity [35]. The matrix stress relaxation phenomena caused by cell tractions include (1) the hydrogel viscoelastic relaxation and (2) poroelastic relaxation caused by solvent diffusion.…”

“…Polyacrylamide gel coated by collagen has been a widely used matrix for 2D cellular systems [1][2][3]. Hydrogels of natural origins are basement membrane-based gel preparations; some examples include fibrin gel, collagen gel, alginate gel, chitosan gel, and Matrigel [15,30,35,36]. Matrigel is a commercially available basement membrane based gel.…”

Generation of mRNA Vaccine: An Analysis of Two Types of Vectors

“…The 12-well culture plate is prepared before transfection. Aliquots of Matrigel® (250 µl) and DMEM (200 µl) are brought to -4°C [22,23]. The -4°C is an optimal temperature for the miscibility of the Matrigel and DMEM.…”

“…The Matrigel forms the basement membrane needed to support the mammalian (culture) cells. It serves as a surrogate extracellular matrix, which forms the micro-environment for growing and studying the culture cells [22,23].…”