Hydrogels
with tunable gelation properties offer versatile platforms for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture and downstream cellular analyses. The control of gelation time and hydrogel crosslinking allows precise manipulation of matrix stiffness and network formation, supporting both cellular encapsulation and surface culture.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12472959/
These systems demonstrate temperature-stable gelation over the physiological range (15–37°C), enabling reproducible handling under standard laboratory conditions. The incorporation of a reducible crosslinker, PEGSSDA, facilitates rapid and gentle cell recovery from hydrogels, preserving cellular integrity for subsequent analyses. Recovered cells maintain high viability, making them suitable for sensitive applications such as RNA extraction, gene expression profiling, and flow cytometry.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1742706119306294
This combination of controllable gelation, mechanical stability, and efficient cell recovery positions reducible hydrogels as a robust tool for studying cell matrix interactions, stem cell behavior, and functional cellular responses in a physiologically relevant 3D environment.