. . . . . . . . . .    ANM 2010     3rd International Conference on Advanced Nano Materials     12-15 September 2010 - Agadir, Morocco Back    Abstract ANMM139 SUBSTRATE MODULUS MEDIATES CELL-MATRIX AND CELL-CELL ADHESION Cynthia A. Reinhart-King, Joseph P. Califano, Jonathan Charest, Casey Kraning and Alina Starchenko Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY . In recent years the importance of the micro- and nano-scale mechanical properties of biomaterials have gained increasing attention.  Previously, biomaterial design primarily focused on creating materials that withstand physiological loads once implanted in the body. However, within the past decade, it has been shown that the mechanical properties of biomaterials affects the behavior of individual cells at the molecular level;  more compliant substrates elcit very different cellular behaviors than the behaviors seen on stiffer surfaces.  In this talk, I will discuss our approach, which exploits the fact cell behavior is regulated by the mechanical properties of the substrate, to induce the self-assembly of cells into tissue-like structures. Our data indicate that the material properties of a biomaterial surface can alter  the balance between cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion.  Using endothelial cells as a model system, we find that given a sufficiently compliant substrate, cells self-assemble into capillary-like structures. More compliant substrates favor cell-cell adhesion, where cells migrate to contact and connect. On these more elastic susbtrates, cells exhibit weak adhesion to the matrix.  As the stiffness of the matrix is increased, networks no longer form; cells are less adherent to each other and are more spread on the substrate. This self-assemble of cells is not limited to endothelial cells alone.  We find that mammary epithelial cells exhibit a similar behavior, where cell-cell connections are fostered on more compliant substrates. These data demonstrate the importance of controlling the mechanical properties of biomaterials to control tissue formation. . © nanoAC . . . . . . . . . .

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