Table 1: Impact of ECM mechanics on cells.

ECM properties such as stiffness, viscoelasticity, degradability, non-linear elasticity, pore size, ligand type, density and geometry regulate various cell behaviors. n/a: not applicable (ECM pore size is an important consideration in 3D but is not meaningful in 2D). “+” indicates positive correlation, “-” indicates negative correlation, “#” indicates a complex relationship and “?” indicates an unknown relationship, that is yet to be thoroughly investigated. Selected references for known impacts are included.

Cellular process╲ECM property	Stiffness	Viscoelasticity	Degradability	Non-linear elasticity	Pore size	Ligand type & density	Geometry
Spreading	2D63,69,234: +	2D95,96,237,238: +	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: n/a	2D63,97,241: #	2D64,89,242: #
	3D39,60,235,236: #	3D40,61,62,135: +	3D42,60,103: +	3D57: +	3D239,240: +	3D40,241: #	3D65,243: #
Migration	2D68–71,191,244–246: #	2D248: +	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: n/a	2D241,250: #	2D251: #
	3D245,247: #	3D77,78: +	3D42,73,249: +	3D158,159: +	3D73,74: +	3D241: #	3D252: #
Differentiation	2D56,88,90–92: #	2D95,96: #	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: n/a	2D90: #	2D99,242: #
	3D39,40: #	3D39,40,61: #	3D60,103,253: #	3D100: #	3D239: #	3D111: #	3D65,254: #
Division	2D105,255: +	2D238: +	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: n/a	2D: ?	2D64,257: #
	3D105: +	3D106: +	3D103,256: +	3D: ?	3D: ?	3D40,41: #	3D258: #
Apoptosis	2D38,259: -	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: n/a	2D: ?	2D64: #
	3D107: -	3D41: -	3D: ?	3D: ?	3D74: -	3D260: #	3D: ?
Tumour phenotype	2D261,262: +	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D:265: +	2D: n/a	2D: ?	2D123,266: #
	3D118–122: +	3D: ?	3D263,264: +	3D: ?	3D73,74: #	3D122: #	3D124,214,266: #
Morphogenesis	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: n/a	2D: ?	2D: ?
	3D111,115,116: #	3D41,114,115: +	3D110–112,267: +	3D: ?	3D268: #	3D41,110,111: #	3D65: #
Matrix secretion	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: ?	2D: n/a	2D: ?	2D: ?
	3D181: +	3D40,84,85: +	3D82,83,86: +	3D: ?	3D83: #	3D: ?	3D: ?