title: Measurement of mechanical tractions exerted by cells in three-dimensional matrices.
abstract: Quantitative measurements of cell-generated forces have heretofore required that cells be cultured on two-dimensional substrates. We describe a technique to quantitatively measure three-dimensional traction forces exerted by cells fully encapsulated in well-defined elastic hydrogel matrices. Using this approach we measured traction forces for several cell types in various contexts and revealed patterns of force generation attributable to morphologically distinct regions of cells as they extend into the surrounding matrix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Wesley R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Legant
authors.forename: Jordan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Brandon L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Blakely
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Guy M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Genin
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D051379:Mice; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor