Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 9.6: A bimodal relationship is observed between cell migratory
capacities and the density of the fibrous component of the 3D scaffold (i.e.,
its characteristic pore size). The other model parameters are the same as in
the simulations of Figure 9.1. Cell mean square displacement (MSD), average
velocity, and persistence time are given as functions of the pore dimension. In
the bottom{right panel, the cell aspect ratio (see Section 9.2.1) is evaluated
over time at high (i.e., 20 m), intermediate (i.e., 10 m), and small (i.e., 5
m) pore size. Cell elongation increases with decrements of pore dimension
(i.e., increments in the number of fibers) until a sort of threshold value, defined
by the measure of the nucleus. The rigidity of the nuclear region does not allow
the entire individual to completely deform and squeeze through small pores.
Each value in the plots is shown as mean s.d. over 50 randomly chosen
individuals.
This interesting result, also found in [156] in the case of BALB/c 3T3
fibroblast cultured on a 2D type I collagen matrix, seems paradoxical. In gen-
eral, it would, in fact, be expected that improved opportunities of cell-fiber
contacts in the case of overabundant fibrous matrices would promote cell mor-
phological transitions. A hint about the biophysical bases of this unexpected
 
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