(89h) Influencing Stem Cell Secreted Factors with Peptoid-Containing Biomaterials

This talk will focus on our recent work to control stem cell fate and behavior using hydrogels with tunable elasticity. We controlled hydrogel mechanics using biomimetic peptoid crosslinkers of various chain stiffness. This strategy enabled us to increase hydrogel mechanics without changing the underlying network connectivity or crosslink density. Using the developed materials, we observed a dependence of stem cell secreted factors, including indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), on underlying matrix mechanics. These results indicate that stem cell immunomodulatory potential may be influenced by substrate mechanics and support the development of synthetic platforms for stem cell expansion.