Fiber alignment in 3D collagen networks as a biophysical marker for cell contractility.

ABSTRACT: Cells cultured in 3D fibrous biopolymer matrices exert traction forces on their environment that induce deformations and remodeling of the fiber network. By measuring these deformations, the traction forces can be reconstructed if the mechanical properties of the matrix and the force-free matrix configuration are known. These requirements limit the applicability of traction force reconstruction in practice. In this study, we test whether force-induced matrix remodeling can instead be used as a proxy for cellular traction forces. We measure the traction forces of hepatic stellate cells and different glioblastoma cell lines and quantify matrix remodeling by measuring the fiber orientation and fiber density around these cells. In agreement with simulated fiber networks, we demonstrate that ch

SUBMITTER: Bohringer D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10872942 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature