Narrow your search

Library

KU Leuven (1)


Resource type

dissertation (1)


Language

English (1)


Year
From To Submit

2014 (1)

Listing 1 - 1 of 1
Sort by

Dissertation
Geometrical control of cell mechanical polarization

Loading...
Export citation

Choose an application

Bookmark

Abstract

Micropatterned adhesive substrates were used to control Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast (MEF) cells geometry. Three patterns producing the same overall shape (square 900 μm2) and having different sub-cellular geometries ([ARROW], [H] and [U shape]) were utilized. A tool to quantify F-actin filaments main orientation inside cells was developed, and used to study cell's structural polarization in respond to changes in the adhesive subcellular geometry. Results were compared to previous observations made in the Laboratory Interdisciplinary of Physics (LIPHY), where traction forces orientations were quantified and a functional polarization axis determined (in terms of force dipole orientation) for the same three adhesive geometries. Results showed a high correspondence between functional and structural polarization. Taken together these results show that the cells can behave as mechanical dipoles which might have large implications in understanding the way the cells migrate and could also have large implications in the exploration of tissue formation.

Keywords

Listing 1 - 1 of 1
Sort by