Soft hydrogel promotes dorsal root ganglion by upregulating gene expression of Ntn4 and Unc5B

Mechanical property is an important factor of cellular microenvironment for neural tissue regeneration. In this study, polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels with systematically varying elastic modulus were prepared using in situ radical polymerization. We found that the hydrogel was biocompatible, and length dorsal root ganglion (DRG)'s axon cell density optimal on 5.1 kPa (among between 3.6 16.5 kPa). These DRGs also exhibited highest gene protein expression proliferation marker Epha4, Ntn4, Sema3D differentiation Unc5B. Our study revealed mechanism how material stiffness affects DRG differentiation. It will provide theoretical basis evidence design development nerve graft better repair performance.