Soft Matter Physics Meets Cell Biology: Transitions of Collective Cell Migration in 3D Environments

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biophysics
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Cell migration plasticity is crucial for development, repair, and metastasis.
• Migration modes include collective, network, and individualized cell movement.
• Classical jamming models in 2D lack consideration of extracellular matrix (ECM).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the intersection of cell migration plasticity and jamming principles.
• To focus on the impact of ECM architectures on cell migration.
• To integrate jamming mechanisms with 3D cell movement for predictive modeling.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cell migration and jamming.
• Analysis of how ECM influences cell density and interactions in 3D.
• Conceptual integration of jamming/unjamming with active cell movement in 3D.

Main Results:

• Cell migration modes are context-dependent and influenced by adhesion, density, and forces.
• Jamming transitions are driven by cell packing, adhesion, and migration capacity.
• ECM architecture and 3D spatial parameters critically affect cell behavior.

Conclusions:

• ECM significantly impacts cell migration plasticity and jamming transitions.
• 3D spatial parameters like confinement and free space are vital.
• Integrating jamming with active 3D movement can predict cell behaviors in health and disease, including cancer metastasis.