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Anisotropically Stiff 3D Micropillar Niche Induces Extraordinary Cell Alignment and Elongation
Author(s) -
Alapan Yunus,
Younesi Mousa,
Akkus Ozan,
Gurkan Umut A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201600096
Subject(s) - elongation , stiffness , pillar , materials science , anisotropy , niche , nanotechnology , substrate (aquarium) , mesenchymal stem cell , chemistry , optics , microbiology and biotechnology , composite material , structural engineering , physics , geology , engineering , biology , oceanography , ultimate tensile strength , biochemistry
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.