Biphasic Theory and In Vitro Assays of Cell-Fibril Mechanical Interactions in Tissue-Equivalent Gels

摘要: The mechanical interaction of motile cells with fibers in the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) is fundamental to cell behavior soft tissues and tissue-equivalent reconstituted gels, thus many biomedical problems tissue engineering applications. Examples are wound healing (Ehrlich 1988), regeneration (Madri Pratt 1986), bioartificial skin organs (Weinberg Bell 1986; Yannas et al. 1982). A key phenomenon these interactions traction exerted by on local collagen that typically constitute solid network gels impart gross integrity. Two important consequences exerting such networks first, when coordinate their traction, resulting migration, second, sufficient deform network. Such cell-collagen coupled a number ways. Network deformation, for example, can result orientation fibers, inducing contact guidance, wherein orient migrate bi-directional bias along direction fibril orientation.