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Revealing the Cytoskeletal Organization of Invasive Cancer Cells in 3D
Published on: October 26, 2013
Control of cell migration in two and three dimensions using substrate morphology.
Ying Liu1, Alicia Franco, Lei Huang
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-2275, USA.
Experimental Cell Research
|May 26, 2009
Summary
Fibroblast cell migration differs on planar versus fibrous scaffolds. Cell speed decreases over time on planar surfaces, while fiber diameter influences migration and receptor expression on fibrous scaffolds.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biomaterials science
- Tissue engineering
Background:
- En masse fibroblast migration on planar surfaces exhibits radial outward movement and time-dependent velocity.
- Fibroblast behavior on fibrous scaffolds is influenced by fiber characteristics, including diameter and alignment.
- Understanding cell migration on different topographies is crucial for tissue regeneration and biomaterial design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fibroblast migration dynamics on planar surfaces and electrospun fiber scaffolds of varying diameters.
- To analyze the impact of fiber alignment and scaffold layering on cell polarization, velocity, and three-dimensional movement.
- To correlate integrin receptor expression with cell migration patterns on different substrates.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of fibroblast migration on planar substrates and aligned electrospun fibers (varying diameters).
- Quantification of cell velocity and trajectory using time-lapse microscopy.
- Assessment of cell polarization and integrin receptor expression via immunofluorescence.
- Observation of three-dimensional cell migration in multi-layered fibrous scaffolds.
Main Results:
- On planar surfaces, fibroblasts migrate radially outward with velocity decreasing exponentially over time.
- On fibers >1 micrometer, cells polarize along fibers, exhibiting slower migration than on planar surfaces, independent of orientation.
- On fibers <1 micrometer, cells migrate slower, showing high receptor concentration.
- Multi-layered scaffolds enable true three-dimensional migration as cells move into lower fiber layers.
Conclusions:
- Fibroblast migration behavior is significantly modulated by substrate topography, particularly fiber diameter and scaffold architecture.
- Fiber diameter influences cell polarization and migration speed, with smaller fibers leading to slower movement and higher receptor density.
- Multi-layered fibrous scaffolds support complex three-dimensional cell migration, essential for tissue engineering applications.
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