Figure 7.

Fiber network–based migration platform. A) Migration phase diagram based upon interfiber spacing and bending stiffness (N/m) modulates single-cell migratory phenotype in 1D, 2D, and 3D cell shapes. Data are plotted for various interfiber spacings against parallel arrangement of fibers (shown on extreme right). On average, cells were found to engage with 3 parallel fibers, resulting in estimation of equivalent stiffness by summation of stiffness of individual fibers (43, 62) (springs in parallel). B) Scanning electron microscopy image (left) of a single scaffold with 3 fiber network categories along with fluorescence microscopy images showing images of the cells seeded on fibers of varying crosshatch densities and the flat 2D control. Scale bars in inset images in scanning electron microscopy panel are 20 µm, and stained images are 10 µm. C) Custom suspended fiber networks to study cell shape and migration changes as cells transition between aligned and crosshatch networks [pattern adapted from Doyle et al. (29)]. Inset shows representative migration trajectories demonstrating cells maintaining elongated shapes and persistent migration on both networks along with cases in which cells can turn directions shown by purple circles (Supplemental Movie S7).