Stepwise Stiffening/Softening of and Cell Recovery from Reversibly Formulated Hydrogel Double Networks.

Biomaterials that can dynamically change stiffnesses are essential in further understanding the role of extracellular matrix mechanics. Using independently formulated and subsequently degradable interpenetrating hydrogel networks, we reversibly and spatiotemporally trigger stiffening/softening of cell-laden matrices. Terminal cell recovery for pooled and/or single-cell analysis is permitted in a near "biologically invisible" manner.