Cancer cell migration on straight, wavy, loop and grid microfibre patterns

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Cell migration is crucial in biological processes.
• Extracellular matrix (ECM) fibrillar morphology influences cell migration.
• Understanding cell-matrix interactions is key for regenerative medicine and cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how different fibrillar patterns of polystyrene fibres affect cell migration dynamics.
• To determine the relationship between cell shape, migration behavior, and micro-pattern features.
• To identify design principles for microfibre patterns to control cell migration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of straight, wavy, looped, and gridded polystyrene fibre patterns using low-voltage continuous electrospinning (fibre diameter ~3 μm).
• Analysis of cellular migration dynamics of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells on these patterns.
• Quantitative assessment of cell shape, migration trajectories, and average step speed.

Main Results:

• Cells dynamically adjusted their shapes and migration paths in response to various fibrillar patterns.
• Average cell step speed showed minimal dependence on the global fibre pattern.
• Cellular ability to deviate from fibre tracks was limited when pattern features approached the cell body's minor axis dimensions.

Conclusions:

• The global pattern of fibrillar structures has a limited impact on average cell migration speed.
• The cell body's minor axis dimension is a critical factor limiting deviation from fibre tracks.
• Microfibre pattern design should consider the cell body's minor axis for effective control of cell migration.