Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41648442›Full record

ArticlebioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2026

Nascent extracellular matrix converts biomaterial cues into cell fate decisions.

J Y Liu, E M Plaster, M Fan, D W Ahmed, A Roy, P Duran, P Panovich, A S Piotrowski-Daspit, C A Aguilar, M L Killian and 1 more

Abstract readPreprint
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

J Y LiuDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
E M PlasterDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, USA.
M FanDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
D W AhmedDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, USA.
A RoyCenter for Precision Engineering for Health (CPE4H), University of Pennsylvania, USA.
P DuranDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, USA.
P PanovichDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, USA.
A S Piotrowski-DaspitDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, USA.
C A AguilarDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, USA.
M L KillianDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, USA.
C LoebelDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Funding

Cellular Biotechnology Training Program (CBTP) - Years 31-35T32GM145304 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Guizhi Zhu · 2022 to 2026
$2.6M
Regulation of Tendon Enthesis Development and Healing via HIF1R01AR082348 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Megan L. Killian · 2024 to 2026
$1.6M
Implementing the nascent ECM into the dynamic reciprocity of cell-ECM interactionsR35GM157063 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI Claudia Loebel · 2025 to 2026
$813k
Engineered alveolar organoids to understand ECM signalingR00HL151670 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI LOEBEL, CLAUDIA · 2021 to 2023
$747k
NHLBI NIH HHS R00 HL151670NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR082348NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM157063NIGMS NIH HHS T32 GM145304
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Hydrogels serve as powerful models for investigating cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. While chemical modifications are routinely used to tune hydrogel properties, it remains unclear whether these modifications mediate cell fate. Previous work has shown that cells deposit newly synthesized (nascent) ECM at the cell-hydrogel interface. Here, we demonstrate that this nascent ECM interface regulates how cells interpret chemical modifications. Using hydrogels with varied chemical modifications, we isolated the effects of chemical modification on nascent ECM and cell fate. Nascent ECM deposition increased as a function of hydrogel modification and with distinct matrisome compositions. While low modification hydrogels promoted cell differentiation, high modifications increased cell proliferation. Perturbing cell-nascent ECM interactions reversed this cell fate. Our findings reveal that nascent ECM regulates cell fate by converting hydrogel cues into signals that control cell fate. This tri-directional interplay among hydrogel chemical modifications, nascent ECM, and cell fate reframes how we interpret cell-hydrogel interactions.

Identifiers

PMID41648442
PMCPMC12871293

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.