Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...

Mechanical Protein Functions

Mechanical Protein Functions

Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force.

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Ketogenic diet mediates intestinal tumorigenesis through lipids not ketones.

Nature·2026

Same author

Electrical Stimulation Directs Formation of Perfused Vasculature in Engineered Tissues.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

A 3D In Vitro Model of the Human Hepatobiliary Junction.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

Synthetic control of implanted engineered liver tissue growth.

Science advances·2026

Same author

Image-Guided Injectable Niche for Hepatocyte Transplantation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Molecular determinants of antibody-mediated priming to enhance detection of ctDNA.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Silicon Microchips for Manipulating Cell-cell Interaction

Silicon Microchips for Manipulating Cell-cell Interaction

Published on: August 30, 2007

Micromechanical control of cell-cell interactions.

Elliot E Hui¹, Sangeeta N Bhatia

¹Department of Bioengineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|March 29, 2007

Summary

Researchers developed a new tool for precisely controlling cell-cell interactions over time. This technology precisely manipulates cells, offering new insights into tissue development and intercellular communication dynamics.

More Related Videos

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

Published on: August 27, 2019

Microfabricated Platforms for Mechanically Dynamic Cell Culture

Microfabricated Platforms for Mechanically Dynamic Cell Culture

Published on: December 26, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Silicon Microchips for Manipulating Cell-cell Interaction

Silicon Microchips for Manipulating Cell-cell Interaction

Published on: August 30, 2007

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

Published on: August 27, 2019

Microfabricated Platforms for Mechanically Dynamic Cell Culture

Microfabricated Platforms for Mechanically Dynamic Cell Culture

Published on: December 26, 2010

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Cell Biology
Tissue Engineering

Background:

Cell-cell interactions are crucial for tissue development and function.
Controlling the temporal dynamics of these interactions is experimentally difficult.
Understanding these dynamics is key to fields like developmental biology and disease research.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel platform for dynamic, high-precision control of cell-cell interactions.
To investigate the temporal requirements of intercellular communication in a specific cell model.

Main Methods:

Utilized a micromachined silicon substrate with movable components.
Achieved micrometer-scale precision in manipulating adherent cells.
Employed a co-culture system of hepatocytes and stromal cells to study intercellular communication.

Main Results:

Demonstrated dynamic regulation of cell-cell interactions through mechanical manipulation.
Established a method for precise control over tissue composition and spatial organization.
Found that maintaining hepatocellular phenotype requires initial direct contact followed by soluble signaling within a limited range (<400 microm).

Conclusions:

The developed platform enables precise, dynamic control over cell-cell interactions.
This technology facilitates the study of intercellular communication dynamics in various biological contexts.
Provides critical insights into the spatiotemporal requirements for cell-cell communication in tissue maintenance.