Dynamic Tracking of Osteoblastic Cell Traction Force during Guided Migration

• Published in: Cellular and molecular bioengineering 2018-02, Vol.11 (1), p.11-23
• Main Authors: Hui, J., Pang, S. W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomaterials; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology; Biomedical materials; Biophysics; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell Biology; Cell migration; Elongation; Engineering; Osteoblasts; Polydimethylsiloxane; Tracking; Traction; Traction force
• ISSN: 1865-5025; 1865-5033
• DOI: 10.1007/s12195-017-0514-7

Introduction Continuous development of cell traction force can regulate cell migration on various extracellular matrixes in vivo . However, the topographical effect on traction force is still not fully understood. Methods Micropost sensors with parallel guiding gratings were fabricated in polydimethylsiloxane to track the cell traction force during topographical guidance in real time. The force distributions along MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblasts were captured every minute. The traction force in the leading, middle, and trailing regions was monitored during forward and reversed cell migration. Results The traction force showed periodic changes during cell migration when the cell changed from elongated to contracted shape. For cell migration without guiding pattern, the leading region showed the largest traction force among the three regions, typically 5.8 ± 0.8 nanonewton (nN) when the cell contracted and 7.1 ± 0.5 nN when it elongated. During guided cell migration, a lower traction force was obtained. When a cell contracted, the trailing traction force was 4.1 ± 0.4 for non-guided migration and 2.2 ± 0.2 nN for guided migration. As a cell became elongated, the trailing traction force was 6.0 ± 0.5 nN during non-guided migration and 4.8 ± 0.3 nN under guidance. When a cell reversed its migration direction, the magnitudes of the traction force from the leading to the trailing regions also flipped. Conclusion The cell traction force is continuously influenced by topographical guidance, which determines cell migration speed and direction. These results of cell traction force development on various topographies could lead to better cell migration control using topotaxis.