Researchers at Yokohama National University use light to steer cell growth in gelatin scaffolds
A team led by researchers at Yokohama National University published findings on September 2 showing that light can reshape gelatin hydrogels to direct cell growth.
Light controls gel shape precisely
The study describes how shining a specific light on a developed gelatin-based hydrogel changes its physical structure. This process allows scientists to accurately control the shape of the material without other methods. The resulting changes in the scaffold mimic the dynamic ability found in natural biological tissues.
Cells follow new growth paths
Directing the shape of the gel enabled researchers to guide the direction and shape of nearby cells. Kazuhiro Iijima noted that controlling cell morphology on demand helps mimic tissues like blood vessels and nerves. These structures naturally change their growth direction according to their environment.
Potential use in cancer models
The team stated the approach could create anisotropic metastasis models for cancer and tumor cells. Such models would allow researchers to study how tumors spread in different directions within a tissue. The work was published in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering.
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