Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
12:26
Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy
Published on: January 29, 2022
Cell attachment behavior on solid and fluid substrates exhibiting spatial patterns of physical properties.
Ann E Oliver1, Viviane Ngassam, Phuong Dang
1Department of Applied Science, College of Engineering, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA. aeoliver@ucdavis.edu
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|May 21, 2009
Summary
Cellular adhesion differs between lipid monolayers and bilayers due to physical properties, not just chemistry. Phosphatidylserine disrupts cell patterning on these lipid surfaces.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Chemically and topologically textured surfaces guide cell growth for tissue engineering and biophysical studies.
- Understanding cell-surface interactions is crucial for developing advanced biomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate cellular adhesion on static (chemically patterned) and dynamic (topologically patterned lipid) substrates.
- Differentiate adhesion behaviors on lipid mono- and bilayers, exploring the role of physical properties.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of patterned lipid mono- and bilayers with controlled wettability and topology.
- Microscopy and cell adhesion assays to quantify cellular attachment and spreading.
- Systematic variation of lipid composition, including the introduction of phosphatidylserine.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in cell adhesion were observed between lipid mono- and bilayers, despite similar chemical and structural characteristics.
- Membrane tension and undulations were identified as critical physical factors influencing cell adhesion.
- Incorporation of phosphatidylserine into lipid patterns abolished the substrate's cell-patterning capability.
Conclusions:
- Subtle physical properties of lipid membranes, beyond surface chemistry, critically regulate cell adhesion.
- Phosphatidylserine's role in promoting cellular adhesion may involve interference with these physical cues.
- Findings offer insights into designing biomimetic surfaces for controlled cell behavior in tissue engineering.
Related Concept Videos
00:59Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
01:09Cell Migration
Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
01:19Cell Migration
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
01:31Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation
Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
01:20Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
01:22Surface Tension of Fluid
Surface tension is a fundamental property of fluids, occurring at the boundary between a liquid and a gas or between two immiscible liquids. This phenomenon arises from the cohesive forces between molecules at the fluid's surface, creating an effect similar to a stretched elastic membrane. Inside each fluid, molecules are equally attracted in all directions by neighboring molecules, but surface molecules experience a net inward force, resulting in surface tension.
Surface tension varies with...
Surface tension varies with...