title: Methods for rectifying cell motions in vitro: breaking symmetry using microfabrication and microfluidics.
abstract: Cell motility is an important phenomenon in cell biology, developmental biology, and cancer. Here we report methods that we designed to identify and characterize external factors which direct cell motions by breaking locally the symmetry. We used microfabrication and microfluidics techniques to impose and combine mechanical and chemical cues to moving fibroblasts. Gradients can thereby be engineered at the cellular scale and this approach has allowed to disentangle roles of the nucleus and protrusion activity in setting cell directions.
authors: Laboratory of Cell Physics ISIS/IGBMC, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Development and Stem Cells Program, IGBMC, CNRS, INSERM and University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Comelles
authors: Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Hortigüela
authors: Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Electronics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Martínez
authors: Laboratory of Cell Physics ISIS/IGBMC, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Development and Stem Cells Program, IGBMC, CNRS, INSERM and University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Riveline
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D051379:Mice; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000379:methods*; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D012212:Rheology; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Adhesion; Biological physics; Cell motility; Gradient; Ratchet