Advanced Science· 2026Q1
Nascent Extracellular Matrix Converts Biomaterial Cues into Cell Fate Decisions
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Nascent extracellular matrix (ECM) deposited by cells on hydrogels dictates cell fate by mediating how cells interpret the hydrogel's chemical modifications.
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Key points
- Nascent extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition by cells on hydrogels increases with hydrogel chemical modification.
- Low hydrogel modifications promote cell differentiation, while high modifications increase cell proliferation.
- Disrupting cell-nascent ECM interactions reverses the observed cell fate outcomes.
- Nascent ECM converts hydrogel chemical cues into signals that control cell fate decisions.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Hydrogels serve as powerful models for investigating cell‐extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. While chemical modifications are routinely used to tune hydrogel properties, it remains unclear whether these modifications mediate cell fate. Previous work has shown that cells deposit newly synthesized (nascent) ECM at the cell‐hydrogel interface. Here, we demonstrate that this nascent ECM interface regulates how cells interpret chemical modifications. Using hydrogels with varied chemical modifications, we isolated the effects of chemical modification on nascent ECM and cell fate. Nascent ECM deposition increased as a function of hydrogel modification and with distinct matrisome compositions. While low‐modification hydrogels promoted cell differentiation, high modifications increased cell proliferation. Perturbing cell‐ nascent ECM interactions reversed this cell fate. Our findings reveal that nascent ECM regulates cell fate by converting hydrogel cues into signals that control cell fate. This tri‐directional interplay among hydrogel chemical modifications, nascent ECM, and cell fate reframes how we interpret cell‐hydrogel interactions.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Advanced Science, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Cell Biology
Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology