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Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels
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Engineered Models of Confined Cell Migration.

Colin D Paul1,2, Wei-Chien Hung1,2, Denis Wirtz1,2,3

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering
|July 16, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Physical confinement significantly alters cell behavior, including migration and intracellular signaling. New in vitro models allow researchers to study these effects in controlled microenvironments, impacting cell biology and clinical applications.

Keywords:
cell confinementcell migrationcytoskeletal organizationmechanosensingmicrofluidicsmicropatterning

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biomaterials Science

Background:

  • Cells are physically confined in vivo by the extracellular matrix and neighboring cells.
  • Studying physical confinement's effects on cell migration and intracellular signaling in vivo is challenging.
  • Traditional 2D cell migration assays fail to replicate complex in vivo topographies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer and utilize in vitro models for studying cell responses to physical confinement.
  • To investigate how defined microenvironments and imposed forces influence cellular behavior.
  • To understand the mechanisms underlying cell migration and signaling under confinement.

Main Methods:

  • Microfluidic microchannel devices
  • Grooved substrates
  • Micropatterned lines
  • Vertical confinement devices
  • Patterned hydrogels
  • Micropipette aspiration assays

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated changes in cytoskeletal reorganization under confinement.
  • Observed alterations in cell-substrate adhesions and intracellular signaling.
  • Documented modifications in nuclear shape and gene expression due to physical confinement.

Conclusions:

  • Engineered in vitro models provide powerful tools to study cell confinement.
  • Physical confinement significantly impacts cellular processes, including signaling and migration.
  • Elucidated signaling pathways have potential translational and clinical relevance.