Fraley Lab
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fraleylab.bsky.social
Fraley Lab
@fraleylab.bsky.social
Lab of Professor Stephanie Fraley at UC San Diego. We study cell-ECM interactions, cell migration, and molecular detection technologies.

https://fraley.ucsd.edu/
This has implications for regenerative medicine, where degradable scaffolds are used to promote cell infiltration and tissue repair. #science #biomaterials @ucsandiego.bsky.social
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Since biomaterial properties are typically assessed post-manufacture without accounting for cellular modification, adjusting for degradation effects will be crucial for engineering biomaterials that sustain desired environmental conditions and regulate cell behavior effectively.
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
It also shows that local degradation by cells can result in materials that are biophysically distinct from their initial characterizations.
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
This study shows that hydrogel degradability can be used as a design variable to engineer stress relaxation and cellular adhesion, with far-reaching implications for the development of future biomaterials.
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Cells embedded inside these synthetic hydrogels and using their own MMPs showed a similar response, spreading less in the cell-degradable (CD) gels than the non-degradable (ND) gels.
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Cells sensed these MMP-induced changes in stress relaxation, spreading less and forming fewer and smaller focal adhesions.
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
To verify that cells were actually sensing the changes in stress relaxation caused by MMPs, we engineered a synthetic hydrogel with MMP-degradable peptides. When treated with increasing amounts of MMPs, its stiffness doesn't change, but it relaxes faster, like the natural ECM.
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Cells sensed the MMP treated ECM, spreading less that they normally do on the untreated ECM.
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
and the mechanics of the ECM. Increasing MMPs didn't change the stiffness of the ECM, but did increase its stress relaxing behavior.
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
In this study, the incredibly talented @badznithin.bsky.social asked whether the small cuts in the ECM cells make with their MMPs change the mechanics of the environment in a way that cells can feel...a feedback loop! We found that even small amounts of MMPs change the architecture...
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Cells do this in multiple ways, including by using enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to trim away at their environment, the extracellular matrix (ECM).
edward scissorhands is holding a pair of scissors in his hand
ALT: edward scissorhands is holding a pair of scissors in his hand
media.tenor.com
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
This has implications for regenerative medicine, where degradable scaffolds are used to promote cell infiltration and tissue repair.
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Since biomaterial properties are typically assessed post-manufacture without accounting for cellular modification, adjusting for degradation effects will be crucial for engineering biomaterials that sustain desired environmental conditions and regulate cell behavior effectively.
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
It also shows that local degradation by cells can result in materials that are biophysically distinct from their initial characterizations.
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
This study shows that hydrogel degradability can be used as a design variable to engineer stress relaxation and cellular adhesion, with far-reaching implications for the development of future biomaterials.
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Cells embedded inside these synthetic hydrogels and using their own MMPs showed a similar response, spreading less in the cell-degradable (CD) gels than the non-degradable (ND) gels.
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Cells sensed these MMP-induced changes in stress relaxation, spreading less and forming fewer and smaller focal adhesions.
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
To verify that cells were actually sensing the changes in stress relaxation caused by MMPs, we engineered a synthetic hydrogel with MMP-degradable peptides. When treated with increasing amounts of MMPs, its stiffness doesn't change, but it relaxes faster, like the natural ECM.
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Cells sensed the MMP treated ECM, spreading less that they normally do on the untreated ECM.
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
and the mechanics of the ECM. Increasing MMPs didn't change the stiffness of the ECM, but did increase its stress relaxing behavior.
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
In this study, the incredibly talented @badznithin.bsky.social asked whether the small cuts in the ECM cells make with their MMPs change the mechanics of the environment in a way that cells can feel...a feedback loop! We found that even small amounts of MMPs change the architecture...
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Cells do this in multiple ways, including by using enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to trim away at their environment, the extracellular matrix (ECM).
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM