Characterization of Integrin Molecular Tension of Human Breast Cancer Cells on Anisotropic Nanopatterns

Abstract

Physical interactions between cells and micro/nanometer-sized architecture presented in an extracellular matrix (ECM) environment significantly influence cell adhesion and morphology, often facilitating the incidence of diseases, such as cancer invasion and metastasis. Sensing and responding to the topographical cues are deeply associated with a physical interplay between integrins, ligands, and mechanical force transmission, ultimately determining diverse cell behavior. Thus, how the tension applied to the integrin-ligand bonds controls cells’ response to the topographical cues needs to be elucidated through quantitative analysis. Here, in this brief research report, we reported a novel platform, termed “topo-tension gauge tether (TGT),” to visualize single-molecule force applied to the integrin-ligand on the aligned anisotropic nanopatterns. Using the topo-TGT assay, first, topography-induced adhesion and morphology of cancerous and normal cells were compared with the pre-defined peak integrin tension. Next, spatial integrin tensions underneath cells were identified using reconstructed integrin tension maps. As a result, we characterized each cell’s capability to comply with nanotopographies and the magnitude of the spatial integrin tension. Altogether, the quantitative information on integrin tension will be a valuable basis for understanding the biophysical mechanisms underlying the force balance influencing adhesion to the topographical cues.

Synergy of Nanotopography and Electrical Conductivity of PEDOT/PSS for Enhanced Neuronal Development

“…It is instead the result of a sort of “trial and error” process, aimed to span around the surrounding environment on an ≥180° spectrum. The fact that the axon keeps on growing on the main pattern direction rather than jumping from one lane to another or even changing direction can be ascribed to the establishment of privileged tensional forces between the cell and the nanogrooved substrate along the main pattern direction, as previously reported for other nanomodulated/nanopatterned systems. − In SI_Movie_Connection, one neurite can be observed deviating from the main direction of the pattern to establish connections with another nearby neurite belonging to a second cell. In this case, the presence of soluble chemotactic cues expelled by cells in their proximity, can be invoked to explain this behavior.…”