Fig. 1
Preparation and characterization of intracellularly gelated cells (GCs). a Hydrogel monomers and photoinitiators are infused into the intracellular domain of cells following transient membrane poration. UV-activated hydrogel cross-linking is then performed to stabilize the cell membrane interface. b Intracellular concentrations of PEG in cells before and after freeze–thaw treatments in gelation buffers containing different PEG-DA content. Error bars represent mean ± standard deviation, n = 3. c The Young’s moduli of the GCs prepared with different concentrations of hydrogel monomers were measured by atomic force microscopy. Error bars represent mean ± standard deviation, n = 64. d Bright-field microscopy of 4 wt% GCs and control cells suspended in PBS for 0 and 30 days. Scale bar = 50 μm. e Structure of 20 wt% GCs was visualized with fluorescein-diacrylate (green) for hydrogel labeling and DiD dye (red) for membrane staining. Scale bars = 5 μm. f 4 wt% GCs suspended in fluorescein solution showed that the GCs were impermeable to the dye. Scale bar = 10 μm
