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    Tissue Engineering

    Development of an in-vitroModel with Controlled Stiffness to Study Adipogenesis

    (K-423) Development of an in-vitro Model with Controlled Stiffness to Study Adipogenesis

    Thursday, October 12, 2023
    9:30 AM – 10:30 AM PDT
    Location: Exhibit Hall - Row K - Poster # 423

      Presenting Author(s)

    • Diego Valdes Cavazos

      Undergraduate Research Assistant
      University of Texas at San Antonio
      San Antonio, Texas, United States

      • Primary Investigator(s)

    • EB

      Eric Brey

      Department Chair
      University of Texas at San Antonio, United States

      • Co-Author(s)

    • LM

      Linda Mota

      Research Scientist Associate
      The Univesity of Texas at San Antonio, United States

    • MP

      Maria del Mar Prado Gutierrez

      Doctoral Candidate
      The University of Texas at San Antonio, United States

    Introduction:: The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a three-dimensional, multicellular network composed of proteins such as collagen that characterizes cells' fundamental properties and behavior. One of these properties is stiffness, which has been proven to play a role in stimulating stem cell differentiation and tumorigenesis. In obesity, research has shown that ECM stiffness increases drastically, however, there is minimal information on how this change affects adipogenesis. This study works on optimizing the characteristics of polyacrylamide (PA) gels to create an in vitro model of controlled stiffness to understand its effects on mouse adipose-derived stem cell (mADSC) culturing.

    Materials and Methods::

    For this, a mixture of acrylamide and bis-acrylamide is made using varying concentrations to make the hydrogels. The gels are then coated with collagen in preparation for cell attachment. Human and mouse adipose-derived stem cells were seeded in the different stiffness PA gels, to observe attachment on coated gels. The cells are then cultured for two weeks with media changes every other day to ensure cellular adaptation.



    Results, Conclusions, and Discussions::

    The Young Modulus was measured using the compression tester: Mach-1TM Mechanical Testing System. Analysis of the gels showed a consistent range of young modulus with the flexible gels having an average of 3.58 kPa and 7.29 kPa, and stiffer gels having an average of 76.03 kPa. Microscopic images showed human and mice ADSC were able to attach and grow on top of the coated gels of different stiffness. Preliminary findings show a higher expression of integrins adiponectin, UCP1, and PPRG by hADSC seeded in 7 kPa range gels. Further analysis must be performed in order to elucidate the effects on the differentiation of brown and white adipocytes with varying stiffness. 



    Acknowledgements (Optional): :

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