Collective cell traction force analysis on aligned smooth muscle cell sheet between three-dimensional microwalls.

ABSTRACT: During the past two decades, novel biomaterial scaffold for cell attachment and culture has been developed for applications in tissue engineering, biosensing and regeneration medicine. Tissue engineering of blood vessels remains a challenge owing to the complex three-layer histology involved. In order to engineer functional blood vessels, it is essential to recapitulate the characteristics of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) inside the tunica media, which is known to be critical for vasoconstriction and vasodilation of the circulatory system. Until now, there has been a lack of understanding on the mechanotransduction of the SMC layer during the transformation from viable synthetic to quiescent contractile phenotypes. In this study, microfabricated arrays of discontinuous microwalls coa

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3982447 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature