title: Complex stiffness gradient substrates for studying mechanotactic cell migration.
abstract: Polyacrylamide gels are cast upon a stiff support with controlled topography, resulting in a thin gel layer of variable height. The topographical profiles project a stiffness map onto the gel, resulting in controlled linear and non-linear 2D stiffness gradients. Fibroblasts, which migrate towards stiffer substrates, accumulate in areas with a gel thickness below 15 μm.
authors.affiliation: Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hwa R
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xian
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brenton
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Franze
authors.forename: Easan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sivaniah
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; C016680:polyacrylamide gels