title: Anisotropically Stiff 3D Micropillar Niche Induces Extraordinary Cell Alignment and Elongation.
abstract: A microfabricated pillar substrate is developed to confine, align, and elongate cells, allowing decoupled analysis of stiffness and directionality in 3D. Mesenchymal stem cells and cardiomyocytes are successfully confined in a 3D environment with precisely tunable stiffness anisotropy. It is discovered that anisotropically stiff micropillar substrates provide cellular confinement in 3D, aligning cells in the stiffer direction with extraordinary elongation.
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Alapan
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Mousa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Younesi
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.|Biomedical Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.|Department of Orthopedics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Ozan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akkus
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.|Biomedical Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.|Department of Orthopedics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.|Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Umut A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Gurkan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055153:Stem Cell Niche
keywords: 3D microenvironment; cell shape; microfabrication; micropillar arrays; stiffness anisotropy