Open AccessNanoscale Surface Topography Reduces Focal Adhesions and Cell Stiffness by Enhancing Integrin Endocytosis
Author(s) -
Xiao Li,
Lasse Hyldgaard Klausen,
Wei Zhang,
Zeinab Jahed,
Ching-Ting Tsai,
Thomas L. Li,
Bianxiao Cui
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.853
H-Index - 488
eISSN - 1530-6992
pISSN - 1530-6984
DOI - 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01934
Subject(s) - nanotopography , mechanotransduction , endocytosis , focal adhesion , self healing hydrogels , integrin , nanotechnology , materials science , stiffness , biophysics , cell , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , composite material , biology , biochemistry , polymer chemistry
Both substrate stiffness and surface topography regulate cell behavior through mechanotransduction signaling pathways. Such intertwined effects suggest that engineered surface topographies might substitute or cancel the effects of substrate stiffness in biomedical applications. However, the mechanisms by which cells recognize topographical features are not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that the presence of nanotopography drastically alters cell behavior such that neurons and stem cells cultured on rigid glass substrates behave as if they were on soft hydrogels. With atomic force microscopy, we show that rigid nanotopography resembles the effects of soft hydrogels in reducing cell stiffness and membrane tension. Further, we reveal that nanotopography reduces focal adhesions and cell stiffness by enhancing the endocytosis and the subsequent removal of integrin receptors. This mechanistic understanding will support the rational design of nanotopography that directs cells on rigid materials to behave as if they were on soft ones.