Figure 6.

Cell migration, cell area, actin alignment, and myosin alignment when exposed to different channel widths and hydrogel stiffnesses. (A–C, left panel) Migration speed was quantified for cells cultured in narrow or wide channels with varying stiffness. With increased stiffness but decreased channel width, cell migration speed was higher. * p < 0.05. (A–D, right panel) Cell area, actin alignment, and myosin alignment were quantified from cells imaged after culture in wide or narrow channels with varying stiffness. Cells cultured in stiffer conditions with narrow channels exhibited increased actin and myosin alignment but lower cell spreading than those in narrow channels. Figure reprinted/adapted with permission from Ref. [102]. Copyright 2012, National Academy of Sciences.