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Adhesion

Adhesion

Adhesion occurs when one type of molecule is attracted to a different molecule. Water exhibits adhesive properties in the presence of polar surfaces, such as glass or cellulose in plants. For instance, when water is poured into a glass, the positively charged hydrogen molecules of water are more attracted to the negatively charged oxygen molecules in the silica than to the oxygen in neighboring water molecules.
Capillary action is a result of water’s adhesive tendencies. When a narrow glass...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Patterning the Geometry of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Colonies on Compliant Substrates to Control Tissue-Level Mechanics

Patterning the Geometry of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Colonies on Compliant Substrates to Control Tissue-Level Mechanics

Published on: September 28, 2019

Adhesive forces in embryonic stem cell cultures.

Alicia A Blancas¹, Chi-Shuo Chen, Sarah Stolberg

¹Graduate Program in Quantitative and Systems Biology, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA.

Cell Adhesion & Migration

|January 26, 2012

Summary

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) prefer forming 3D colonies over spreading on surfaces due to strong cell-cell adhesion. E-cadherin is the key molecule driving this self-organization into aggregates.

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Patterning of Embryonic Stem Cells Using the Bio Flip Chip

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Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Patterning the Geometry of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Colonies on Compliant Substrates to Control Tissue-Level Mechanics

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Published on: September 28, 2019

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Patterning of Embryonic Stem Cells Using the Bio Flip Chip

Patterning of Embryonic Stem Cells Using the Bio Flip Chip

Published on: October 1, 2007

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics
Developmental Biology

Background:

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit unique self-organization into 3D colonies and embryoid bodies (EBs), unlike typical monolayer-forming cells.
This aggregation behavior contrasts with their spreading on standard culture substrates like gelatin or mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the biophysical basis for ESCs' preference for aggregation over spreading.
To quantify adhesion forces and identify key molecules involved in ESC-ESC and ESC-substrate interactions.

Main Methods:

Quantification of adhesion molecule expression levels on ESCs.
Calculation of adhesive forces between ESCs and between ESCs and MEF/gelatin substrates using a dodecahedron model.
Functional assays involving blocking E-cadherin to assess its role in colony formation.

Main Results:

ESC-ESC binding forces (9.1 x 10^5 pN) are significantly stronger than ESC-MEF binding forces (7.9 x 10^4 pN).
E-cadherin was identified as the predominant adhesion molecule mediating ESC-ESC interactions.
Blocking E-cadherin function substantially reduced ESC colony formation.

Conclusions:

ESCs preferentially self-assemble into 3D aggregates and colonies due to strong homotypic adhesion mediated primarily by E-cadherin.
The biophysical properties and molecular interactions explain the distinct aggregation behavior of ESCs compared to cells that form monolayers.