How cells respond to environmental cues – insights from bio-functionalized substrates

Abstract

Biomimetic materials have long been the (he)art of bioengineering. They usually aim at mimicking in vivo conditions to allow in vitro culture, differentiation and expansion of cells. The past decade has witnessed a considerable amount of progress in soft lithography, bioinspired micro-fabrication and biochemistry, allowing the design of sophisticated and physiologically relevant micro-and nanoenvironments. These systems now provide an exquisite toolbox with which we can control a large set of physicochemical environmental parameters that determine cell behavior. Biofunctionalized surfaces have evolved from simple protein-coated solid surfaces or cellular extracts into nano-textured 3D surfaces with controlled rheological and topographical properties. The mechanobiological molecular processes by which cells interact and sense their environment can now be unambiguously understood down to the single-molecule level. This Commentary highlights recent successful examples where bio-functionalized substrates have contributed in raising and answering new questions in the area of extracellular matrix sensing by cells, cell-cell adhesion and cell migration. The use, the availability, the impact and the challenges of such approaches in the field of biology are discussed.

Cell‐Perceived Substrate Curvature Dynamically Coordinates the Direction, Speed, and Persistence of Stromal Cell Migration

“…In the body, cells migrate through the extracellular matrix, whose microstructure defines physical boundary conditions for various vital cell activities, including cell migration. It is well established that cell migration is influenced by topographical cues from the environment . In vitro experiments using protein tracks and micro‐/nano‐fabricated grooves and ridges have convincingly demonstrated that the migration of adherent cells is guided by anisotropic topographical features (i.e., structures with different geometric properties in different directions) of the substrate—a phenomenon termed “contact guidance.” Such studies have yielded important insights into the fundamental mechanisms underlying cell migration, which contribute toward our understanding of morphogenesis and disease development, such as in cancer metastasis .…”

Inhibition of Hypertrophy and Improving Chondrocyte Differentiation by MMP-13 Inhibitor Small Molecule-Encapsulated in Alginate-Chondroitin Sulfate-Platelet Lysate Hydrogel

“…Cells can reorganize and re-engineer their environments through mechanical and biochemical interaction with the substrate. Therefore, cells can strongly in uence the hydrogel matrices in which they are embedded, in the short term through interaction with the crosslinking mechanism and long-term through remodeling [78][79][80]. Weihua et al demonstrated that Bortezomib, an FDA-approved small molecule for the treatment of myeloma, inhibits the expression of MMP-13, leading to a reduction of collagen type 2 degradation [82].…”

Bi-Layered Polymer Carriers with Surface Modification by Electrospinning for Potential Wound Care Applications

“…Both materials (SA and PVA) are known to be biocompatible, biodegradable and good for the cells [67,68]. However, it is known that cells are able to sense the environment [69] and in addition to the material properties (internal chemical composition and the mechanical properties) [70], the material surface modification may change the behavior of the cells [71,72]. The overall idea of using surface modified structures is to stimulate the cells or their behavior.…”