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Updated: May 5, 2026

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration
Published on: April 3, 2015
Nanoparticles strengthen intracellular tension and retard cellular migration
Chor Yong Tay1, Pingqiang Cai, Magdiel I Setyawati
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore , 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore.
Abstract:
Nanoparticles can have profound effects on cell biology. Here, we show that after TiO2, SiO2, and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles treatment, TR146 epithelial cell sheet displayed slower migration. Cells after exposure to the nanoparticles showed increased cell contractility with significantly impaired wound healing capability however without any apparent cytotoxicity. We showed the mechanism is through nanoparticle-mediated massive disruption of the intracellular microtubule assembly, thereby triggering a positive feedback that promoted stronger substrate adhesions thus leading to limited cell motility.
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