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Spatiotemporally coordinated transformations in epithelial curvature are necessary to generate crypt-villus structures during intestinal development. However, the temporal regulation of mechanotransduction pathways that drive crypt morphogenesis remains understudied. Intestinal organoids have proven useful to study crypt morphogenesis in vitro, yet the reliance on static culture scaffolds limits the ability to assess the temporal effects of changing curvature. Here, a photoinduced hydrogel cross-link exchange reaction is used to spatiotemporally alter epithelial curvature and study how dynamic changes in curvature influence mechanotransduction pathways to instruct crypt morphogenesis. Photopatterned curvature increased membrane tension and depolarization, which was required for subsequent nuclear localization of yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) observed 24 hours following curvature change. Curvature-directed crypt morphogenesis only occurred following a delay in the induction of differentiation that coincided with the delay in spatially restricted YAP localization, indicating that dynamic changes in curvature initiate epithelial curvature–dependent mechanotransduction pathways that temporally regulate crypt morphogenesis.

 

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are stimuli‐responsive materials capable of undergoing large deformations. The thermomechanical response of LCEs is attributable to the coupling of polymer network properties and disruption of order between liquid crystalline mesogens. Complex deformations have been realized in LCEs by either programming the nematic director via surface‐enforced alignment or localized mechanical deformation in materials incorporating dynamic covalent chemistries. Here, the preparation of LCEs via thiol‐Michael addition reaction is reported that are amenable to surface‐enforced alignment. Afforded by the thiol‐Michael addition reaction, dynamic covalent bonds are uniquely incorporated in chemistries subject to surface‐enforce alignment. Accordingly, LCEs prepared with complex director profiles are able to be programmed and reprogrammed by (re)activating the dynamic covalent chemistry to realize distinctive shape transformations.