Fig. 1.

Schematic of dynamic force loading in an ECM network with crosslink heterogeneity. Local pulling forces, mimicking dynamic cell protrusion-contraction activity, are generated on fiber segments that enter the cell vicinity, i.e. the loading zone, leading to gradual ECM densification. Crosslinks are either transient (force-sensitive) or permanent (force-insensitive). As transient crosslinks unbind, ECM accumulation and network reorganization become nonelastic. Permanent crosslinks do not exhibit force-induced unbinding.