Cell Adhesion Assessment Reveals a Higher Force per Contact Area on Fibrous Structures Compared to Flat Substrates

Abstract

The distribution and density of ligands have a determinant role in cell adhesion on planar substrates. At the same time, planar surfaces are nonphysiological for most cells, and cell behavior on planar and topographical surfaces is significantly different, with fibrous structures being the most natural environment for cells. Despite phenomenological examinations, the role of adhesion ligand density in the fibrous scaffold for cell adhesion strength has so far not been assessed. Here, we established a method to measure the amount of cell ligands on biofunctionalized electrospun meshes and planar substrate coatings with the same chemical composition. With this as a basis for systematic comparison and pure polyester as benchmark substrates, we have cultured L929 mouse fibroblasts and measured the adhesion force to surfaces of different chemistry and topography. In every case, having fibrous structures have led to an increased adhesion force per area also at a lower ligand density, which remarks the importance of such structures in a natural extracellular environment. Conversely, cells migrate more on planar surfaces than on the tested fibrous substrates. We thus established a platform to study cell–matrix interactions on different surfaces in a precise and reproducible manner as a new tool to assess and quantify cell–matrix interactions toward 3D scaffolds.

Antibacterial and pH-sensitive methacrylate poly-L-Arginine/poly (β-amino ester) polymer for soft tissue engineering

“…In this study, the cell adhesion process for PβAE1.5 and its copolymer films show active adhesion between the cells and the surface of the films. This can be due to the suitable hydrophilicity, the surface charge and chemical structure of PBAE1.5 to interact with fibroblast cells [ 66 ].…”

Oriented Porous Polymer Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Review of Preparation Strategies and Applications

“…In recent years, researchers have identified that the distinctive morphology of polymer scaffolds, including anisotropic structures, can induce a contact-induced effect, leading to cell alignment and migration along the direction of the pores. [88][89][90][91][92] Numerous human tissues, such as muscles, [93] blood vessels, [88] skin, [94] and nerves, [95] exhibit directional cell arrangements. Therefore, scaffolds with oriented pore structures possess greater potential for guiding and promoting cell growth, supporting cell alignment, and facilitating proliferation compared to scaffolds with random pore structures.…”

Contactless calibration of microchanneled AFM cantilevers for fluidic force microscopy

“…15 This technique proved to be very versatile and allowed for reversibly formed colloidal probes [16][17][18] and the aspiration of sessile cells on a substrate, which allows for quantitative characterization of their detachment forces. [19][20][21][22][23] For biological applications, fluidic force microscopy is not limited to the determination of adhesion forces of cells on various substrates. Currently, intracellular injection or sampling of organelles under precise force control are actively pursued by this technique.…”

“…The development of fluidic force microscopy originated less than 15 years ago 15 . This technique proved to be very versatile and allowed for reversibly formed colloidal probes 16–18 and the aspiration of sessile cells on a substrate, which allows for quantitative characterization of their detachment forces 19–23 . For biological applications, fluidic force microscopy is not limited to the determination of adhesion forces of cells on various substrates.…”