The elastic modulus of Matrigel™ as determined by atomic force microscopy
Open accessAbstract
Recent studies indicate that the biophysical properties of the cellular microenvironment strongly influence a variety of fundamental cell behaviors. The extracellular matrix's (ECM) response to mechanical force, described mathematically as the elastic modulus, is believed to play a particularly critical role in regulatory and pathological cell behaviors. The basement membrane (BM) is a specialization of the ECM that serves as the immediate interface for many cell types (e.g. all epithelial cells) and through which cells are connected to the underlying stroma. Matrigel is a commercially available BM-like complex and serves as an easily accessible experimental simulant of native BMs. However, the local elastic modulus of Matrigel has not been defined under physiological conditions. Here we present the procedures and results of indentation tests performed on Matrigel with atomic force microscopy (AFM) in an aqueous, temperature controlled environment. The average modulus value was found to be approximately 450 Pa. However, this result is considerably higher than macroscopic shear storage moduli reported in the scientific literature. The reason for this discrepancy is believed to result from differences in test methods and the tendency of Matrigel to soften at temperatures below 37 degrees C.
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The mechanical properties of Matrigel samples are heterogeneous; local regions exhibit elastic moduli several times higher than the average modulus of the sample.
“Furthermore, the mechanical properties of Matrigel samples are heterogeneous; local regions of such gels have been found to exhibit elastic moduli several times higher than the average modulus of the sample60,61.”
From Towards organoid culture without Matrigel (2021) · cites this paper as [60]
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- Authors
- Soofi, S. S., Last, J. A., Liliensiek, S. J., Nealey, P. F., & Murphy, C. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- University of Wisconsin System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Murphy, Christopher J.
- ORCID
- Nealey, Paul F.
- Venue
- Journal of Structural Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-09
- Volume
- 167
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 216-219
- ISSN
- 1047-8477 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2747304
- OpenAlex
- W2092021110
- Cited by
- 309
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 29 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 3.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Structural Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Eye Institute (R01EY016134, R01EY012253, R01EY017367, P30EY016665)
- National Cancer Institute (1R01CA133567-01)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
- Keywords
- Matrigel, elastic modulus, basement membrane, extracellular matrix, mechanical properties, indentation testing, atomic force microscopy, shear storage modulus, cell microenvironment
- MeSH terms
- Collagen, Drug Combinations, Elasticity, Laminin, Proteoglycans, Microscopy, Atomic Force
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