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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy
Published on: January 29, 2022
Large area protein patterning reveals nanoscale control of focal adhesion development
Jenny Malmström1, Brian Christensen, Hans P Jakobsen
1Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Denmark.
Abstract:
Focal adhesion development in cells adherent to surface bound fibronectin presented as 200, 500, or 1000 nm diameter circular patches or as homogeneous controls is studied by fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. Fundamental cellular processes such as adhesion, spreading, focal adhesion and stress fiber formation are shown to be dependent on the spatial distribution of ligands at this scale. Large area samples enable the study of whole cell populations and opens for new potential applications.
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