title: Micropatterned Azopolymer Surfaces Modulate Cell Mechanics and Cytoskeleton Structure.
abstract: Physical and chemical characteristics of materials are important regulators of cell behavior. In particular, cell elasticity is a fundamental parameter that reflects the state of a cell. Surface topography finely modulates cell fate and function via adhesion mediated signaling and cytoskeleton generated forces. However, how topographies alter cell mechanics is still unclear. In this work we have analyzed the mechanical properties of peripheral and nuclear regions of NIH-3T3 cells on azopolymer substrates with different topographic patterns. Micrometer scale patterns in the form of parallel ridges or square lattices of surface elevations were encoded on light responsive azopolymer films by means of contactless optical methods. Cell mechanics was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cells and consequently the cell cytoskeleton were oriented along the linear patterns affecting cytoskeletal structures, e.g., formation of actin stress fibers. Our data demonstrate that topographic substrate patterns are recognized by cells and mechanical information is transferred by the cytoskeleton. Furthermore, cytoskeleton generated forces deform the nucleus, changing its morphology that appears to be related to different mechanical properties in the nuclear region.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rianna
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ventre
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, University of Bremen , Otto-Hahn Allee, D-28359 Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radmacher
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Netti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000187:drug effects; D004548:Elasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D011108:Polymers
keywords: AFM; azopolymers; cell mechanics; cell nuclei; cytoskeleton; topographic patterns