title: A novel 3D integrated platform for the high-resolution study of cell migration plasticity.
abstract: Understanding the mechanisms of interstitial cancer migration is of great scientific and medical interest. Creating 3D platforms, conducive to optical microscopy and mimicking the physical parameters (in plane and out of plane) involved in interstitial migration, is a major step forward in this direction. Here, a novel approach is used to directly print free-form, 3D micropores on basal scaffolds containing microgratings optimized for contact guidance. The platforms so formed are validated by monitoring cancer cell migration and micropore penetration with high-resolution optical microscopy. The shapes, sizes and deformability of the micropores are controllable, paving the way to decipher their role in interstitial migration.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Institute of Energy Technology, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zürich, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Richner
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galliker
authors.forename: Manish K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Dimos
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poulikakos
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011327:Printing / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: bioengineering; interstitial cell migration; microstructures; nanodrip printing; three-dimensional scaffolds