Fig. 4.

Microbeam mechanical behaviors controlled by beam and microenvironment material properties. a By varying the shear modulus of the surrounding microgel medium, G’, and the beam elastic modulus, E, we observe a cascade of different behaviors; the cell–ECM microbeams buckle, breakup, contract axially, and remain stationary. (left to right: collagen E = 0.035 Pa and microgel G’ = 1.92 Pa; E = 0.1 Pa, and G’ = 5.69 Pa; E = 1 Pa and G’ = 10.85 Pa; E = 0.3 Pa and G’ = 55.02 Pa. Scale bar: 1 mm). b A two-dimensional map of these behaviors illustrates where transitions occur. Dotted line indicates G’^b and dashed line indicates σ_y^f. (n = 3 samples observed for each displayed data point.)