{
  "abstract": "Native tissues are characterized by high cellular density and continuous reciprocal interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), yet recreating these features in vitro remains a major challenge. Current three-dimensional (3D) culture systems typically capture either dense cell-cell interactions or a defined ECM environment, but rarely both. Here, we introduce a strategy that exploits direct fibroblast-to-neuron reprogramming to decouple microenvironment formation from final cell identity. Human dermal fibroblasts were embedded in collagen microgels, where their intrinsic matrix-remodeling capacity drove rapid ECM compaction. Concurrently, the contractile fibroblasts were converted into induced neurons (iN), generating densely packed neuronal microcultures within a remodeled collagen matrix. This approach transforms a defining function of the starting cell type into a mechanism for engineering the microenvironment of the target cell type. The resulting iN-microgels combine high cell density, defined ECM composition, and tunable biophysical properties in a scalable microscale format. By coupling matrix remodeling with cell-fate conversion, our platform establishes a general framework for engineering tissue-like microenvironments and reveals how dynamic 3D extracellular contexts can be integrated into direct cell reprogramming.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Copenhagen University"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "K. Laurin"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Habekost"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. Nilsson"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. Apostolaki"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. B. Roloson"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Giacomoni"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Bruzelius"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. F. Wesseler"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. A. Barker"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. B. Larsen"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Rylander Ottosson"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. J. Mooney"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Parmar"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "J. Kajtez"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/300fq0mxk2kkv.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.27.762125",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.27.762125v1.full",
  "id": "300fq0mxk2kkv",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.27.762125v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "bioengineering"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1307|Cellular Mechanics and Interactions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224089297",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.27.762125v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-27",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/300fq0mxk2kkv.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:30:12Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.27.762125",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.27.762125v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:bioengineering",
      "subfield": "systems-synthetic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Transient matrix remodeling during direct cell-fate reprogramming enables self-assembly of dense neuronal niches",
  "title_text": "Transient matrix remodeling during direct cell-fate reprogramming enables self-assembly of dense neuronal niches",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:30:12Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/300fq0mxk2kkv",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}