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Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels
Published on: August 10, 2010
Molecular determinants of intrinsic cellular stiffness in health and disease
Zezhuo Su1,2, Zhenlin Chen3, Kun Ma1,2
1School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR China.
Abstract:
In recent years, the role of intrinsic biophysical features, especially cellular stiffness, in diverse cellular and disease processes is being increasingly recognized. New high throughput techniques for the quantification of cellular stiffness facilitate the study of their roles in health and diseases. In this review, we summarized recent discovery about how cellular stiffness is involved in cell stemness, tumorigenesis, and blood diseases. In addition, we review the molecular mechanisms underlying the gene regulation of cellular stiffness in health and disease progression. Finally, we discussed the current understanding on how the cytoskeleton structure and the regulation of these genes contribute to cellular stiffness, highlighting where the field of cellular stiffness is headed.
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