Producing Collagen Micro-stripes with Aligned Fibers for Cell Migration Assays.

摘要: The orientation of collagen fibers in native tissues plays an important role cell signaling and mediates the progression tumor cells breast cancer by a contact guidance mechanism. Understanding how migration epithelial is directed alignment requires vitro assays with standardized orientations fibers. To address this issue, we produced micro-stripes aligned using easy-to-use versatile approach based on aspiration solution within microchannel. Glass coverslips were functionalized (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane/glutaraldehyde linkage to covalently anchor fibers, whereas microchannels poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) nonionic triblock polymer prevent adhesion micro-stripes. Using strategy, can be peeled off expose without affecting their mechanical integrity. We used time-lapse confocal reflection microscopy characterize polymerization kinetics networks for different concentrations as function microchannel width. Our results indicate non-linear concentration dependence area fluorescence, suggesting that architecture sensitive small changes concentration. show possibility influence fibril coverage adjusting solution. applied novel study cells, demonstrating represent valuable in-vitro assay studying mechanisms.