Early AccessSCIENCE & EVIDENCE
Mechanobiology asks how physical properties and forces influence cell behaviour. In cell culture, substrate stiffness and the extracellular matrix (ECM) interface can contribute to cell fate, identity and function. Start with a biological outcome, then follow the experiment.
START WITH THE INTERFACE
Stiffness describes how strongly the material resists deformation. ECM attachment describes how matrix proteins anchor to that material; coating stability describes how well they remain attached during culture.
Cells convert mechanical inputs into biochemical responses through mechanotransduction. A defined hydrogel culture substrate makes the physical setting part of the experimental design.
The published StemBond research platform varied stiffness and ECM tethering independently. That helps separate contributions to a biological response; the exact controls depend on the experiment.
Explore the foundational studyHow does the material resist deformation?
How are proteins presented and retained?
Read the biological result alongside both the material and its protein interface.
Conceptual diagram, not measured data or a specification for every commercial SENCE™ configuration.
FOLLOW AN EXPERIMENT
Restore cell function
Aged rat brain progenitor cells regained proliferation and differentiation activity on softer research hydrogels. Their surroundings helped determine what they could do.
Rat oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs)
↗Preserve stem-cell identity
Soft StemBond research hydrogels supported mouse embryonic stem-cell self-renewal in minimal medium conditions where the cells would normally differentiate.
Mouse embryonic stem cells; the broader study also examined human pluripotent cells
↗Regulate stem-cell expansion
A matrix protein anchored to research hydrogels reduced an expansion advantage in Tet2-mutant mouse blood stem cells. The same protein on plastic did not produce that effect.
Tet2-mutant and wild-type mouse blood stem cells
↗Understand repair responses
Soft research hydrogels strengthened mouse fibroblasts’ response to BMP-7, helping reveal how a wound’s physical environment can shape repair signalling.
Mouse dermal fibroblasts and digit-tip research
↗Each story identifies the biological model, the published research system and the limits of the finding.
WATCH / 3:41
How do cells respond to the mechanics beneath them and the proteins they encounter? See how SENCE™ brings stiffness, ECM choice and attachment into a controlled comparison.
Watch with transcriptNEW TO HYDROGEL EXPERIMENTS?
Separate the material, its protein interface and the measured biological result. Our reading guide explains the questions to ask of a study.
Read the guideSTART WITH YOUR QUESTION
Tell us about your cells, your question and your current workflow.
