biostudies-literatureStaunton JRIntramural NIH HHSNational Cancer Institute398-417https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5065074biostudies-literatureUnknown9(3)One of the hallmarks of the malignant transformation of epithelial tissue is the modulation of stromal components of the microenvironment. In particular, aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and stiffening enhances tumor growth and survival and promotes metastasis. Type I collagen is one of the major ECM components. It serves as a scaffold protein in the stroma contributing to the tissue's mechanical properties, imparting tensile strength and rigidity to tissues such as those of the skin, tendons, and lungs. Here we investigate the effects of intrinsic spatial heterogeneities due to fibrillar architecture, pore size and ligand density on the microscale and bulk mechanical properties of the ECM. Type I collagen hydrogels with topologies tuned by polymerization temperature and concCellular and molecular bioengineeringMechanical properties of the tumor stromal microenvironment probed <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> by <i>in situ</i>-calibrated optical trap-based active microrheology.PMC5065074ZIA BC011524-04ZIA BC011524-03ZIA BC011524-02Z99 CA999999ZIA BC011524-01This effort was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute.Devine AFung KLVieira WTanner KLake RStaunton JRfalseMechanical properties of the tumor stromal microenvironment probed <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> by <i>in situ</i>-calibrated optical trap-based active microrheology.One of the hallmarks of the malignant transformation of epithelial tissue is the modulation of stromal components of the microenvironment. In particular, aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and stiffening enhances tumor growth and survival and promotes metastasis. Type I collagen is one of the major ECM components. It serves as a scaffold protein in the stroma contributing to the tissue's mechanical properties, imparting tensile strength and rigidity to tissues such as those of the skin, tendons, and lungs. Here we investigate the effects of intrinsic spatial heterogeneities due to fibrillar architecture, pore size and ligand density on the microscale and bulk mechanical properties of the ECM. Type I collagen hydrogels with topologies tuned by polymerization temperature and conc2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Sep2025-04-04T01:02:56.169Z2019-03-27T02:26:44ZS-EPMC50650742775228910.1007/s12195-016-0460-9