Generation of 3D Collagen Gels with Controlled Diverse Architectures.
Rat tail collagen solutions have been used as polymerizable in vitro three dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) gels for single and collective cell migration assays as well as spheroid formation. Factors such as ECM concentration, pH, ionic concentration, and temperature can alter collagen polymerization and ECM architecture. This unit describes how to generate 3D collagen gels that have distinct architectures ranging from a highly reticular meshwork of short thin fibrils with small pores to a loose matrix consisting of stiff, parallel-bundled long fibrils by changing collagen polymerization temperature. This permits analysis of 3D cell migration in different ECM architectures found in vivo while maintaining a similar ECM concentration. Also included are collagen labeling techniques helpful for ECM visualization during live fluorescence imaging. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
['Doyle|Andrew D|AD|']
D000818:Animals D001671:Biochemistry D018929:Cell Culture Techniques D002470:Cell Survival D011232:Chemical Precipitation D003094:Collagen D004396:Coloring Agents D005109:Extracellular Matrix D005456:Fluorescent Dyes D005782:Gels D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional D058105:Polymerization D051381:Rats D012965:Sodium Chloride D012996:Solutions D013388:Succinimides D013623:Tail D013696:Temperature
ECM architecture 3D matrix fluorescent labelling rat-tail collagen