Effects of extracellular matrix stiffness and thickness on cell growth / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The mechanical properties of extracellular matrix can affect cell spreading, proliferation and differentiation. It is of extremely vital significance for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the progress of matrix mechanical properties influences on cell growth and to analyze if there is a relationship between matrix thickness and stiffness, in order to provide experimental methods for functional tissue construction in vitro. METHODS: The author performed a data retrieval of PubMed and Bailianyun databases from 1988 to 2016 to search the articles addressing the influence of extracellular matrix mechanical properties on cell growth, and systematically reviewed the literatures. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 254 references were retrieved, and 43 articles were finally involved in the result analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After summarizing and analyzing, it is found that the structure and function of cells adhering to the matrix are related to the extracellular environment.In vitro simulation experiments have shown that the increasing of matrix stiffness can change the cell morphology, increase the spreading area and proliferation rate, and can also influence the cell differentiation. When the matrix thickness is in a certain range, cells can sense the change of matrix thickness. When the matrix thickness is out of range, cells cannot perceive the matrix thickness. Matrix stiffness and cross-linking degree have certain effects on the cells, and the matrix thickness ranges from several microns to 60 microns, which is associated with the horizontal size of seeded cells.