title: Rolled-up functionalized nanomembranes as three-dimensional cavities for single cell studies.
abstract: We use micropatterning and strain engineering to encapsulate single living mammalian cells into transparent tubular architectures consisting of three-dimensional (3D) rolled-up nanomembranes. By using optical microscopy, we demonstrate that these structures are suitable for the scrutiny of cellular dynamics within confined 3D-microenvironments. We show that spatial confinement of mitotic mammalian cells inside tubular architectures can perturb metaphase plate formation, delay mitotic progression, and cause chromosomal instability in both a transformed and nontransformed human cell line. These findings could provide important clues into how spatial constraints dictate cellular behavior and function.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrative Nanosciences, IFW Dresden , Helmholtzstrasse 20, D-01069 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Christine K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gracias
authors.forename: Rafael E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Carazo-Salas
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Oliver G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008677:Metaphase; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial