| Autor: |
Johannsmeier S; Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hollerithallee 8, 30419 Hannover, Germany.; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, Stadtfelddamm 34, 30625 Hannover, Germany., Nguyen MTT; Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hollerithallee 8, 30419 Hannover, Germany., Hohndorf R; Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hollerithallee 8, 30419 Hannover, Germany., Dräger G; Institute of Organic Chemistry, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 1b, 30167 Hannover, Germany., Heinemann D; Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hollerithallee 8, 30419 Hannover, Germany.; Department of Phytophotonics, Institute of Horticultural Production Systems, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany.; Hannover Centre for Optical Technologies (HOT), Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Nienburger Str. 17, 30167 Hannover, Germany., Ripken T; Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hollerithallee 8, 30419 Hannover, Germany.; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, Stadtfelddamm 34, 30625 Hannover, Germany., Heisterkamp A; Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hollerithallee 8, 30419 Hannover, Germany.; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development, Stadtfelddamm 34, 30625 Hannover, Germany.; Institute of Quantum Optics, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany. |
| Abstrakt: |
Hydrogels are favored materials in tissue engineering as they can be used to imitate tissues, provide scaffolds, and guide cell behavior. Recent advances in the field of optogenetics have created a need for biocompatible optical waveguides, and hydrogels have been investigated to meet these requirements. However, combining favorable waveguiding characteristics, high biocompatibility, and controllable bioactivity in a single device remains challenging. Here, we investigate the use of poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels as carriers and illumination systems for in vitro cell culture. We present a comprehensive and reproducible protocol for selective bioactivation of the hydrogels, achieving high proliferation rates and strong cell adhesion on the treated surface. A cell model expressing the photoconvertible fluorescent protein Dendra2 confirmed that light-cell interactions occur at the hydrogel surface. Monte Carlo simulations were performed as a tool to predict the extent of these interactions. This study demonstrates a hydrogel-based waveguiding system for targeted cell stimulation in vitro and potentially in vivo environments. |
