title: Deterministic control of mean alignment and elongation of neuron-like cells by grating geometry: a computational approach.
abstract: Neuron-like cells are driven by their surrounding environment through local topography. A causal mechanotransductive web of topography-force relationships influences and controls complex cellular phenomena such as growth and alignment. This work aimed to provide a computational framework able to model the behaviour of neuron-like (PC12) cells on gratings, accounting for the twofold ability of topographical cues to simultaneously align and enhance the growth of cells. In particular, starting from the mechanical behaviour of the growth cone and filopodia, the effect of grating geometry (e.g., the periodicity and the size of grooves and ridges) on the neuritic mean alignment angle and on the outgrowth rate of cells was explored through theoretical tools and combinatorial simulations, which were able to predict (R(2) > 0.9) experimental data in a time range of 72-120 hours.
authors.affiliation: The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore SantAnna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, 56025 Italy. p.sergi@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Pier Nicola
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Sergi
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciofani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D032701:Biomimetics; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048430:Cell Shape; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013499:Surface Properties