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Anisotropically Stiff 3D Micropillar Niche Induces Extraordinary Cell Alignment and Elongation.

ABSTRACT: A microfabricated pillar substrate is developed to confine, align, and elongate cells, allowing decoupled analysis of stiffness and directionality in 3D. Mesenchymal stem cells and cardiomyocytes are successfully confined in a 3D environment with precisely tunable stiffness anisotropy. It is discovered that anisotropically stiff micropillar substrates provide cellular confinement in 3D, aligning cells in the stiffer direction with extraordinary elongation.

SUBMITTER: Alapan Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4982772 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Anisotropically Stiff 3D Micropillar Niche Induces Extraordinary Cell Alignment and Elongation.

Alapan Yunus Y Younesi Mousa M Akkus Ozan O Gurkan Umut A UA

Advanced healthcare materials 20160518 15

A microfabricated pillar substrate is developed to confine, align, and elongate cells, allowing decoupled analysis of stiffness and directionality in 3D. Mesenchymal stem cells and cardiomyocytes are successfully confined in a 3D environment with precisely tunable stiffness anisotropy. It is discovered that anisotropically stiff micropillar substrates provide cellular confinement in 3D, aligning cells in the stiffer direction with extraordinary elongation. ...[more]

PMID: 27191679

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