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Initial Fiber Alignment Pattern Alters Extracellular Matrix Synthesis in Fibroblast Populated Fibrin Gel Cruciforms and Correlates with Predicted Tension
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Initial Fiber Alignment Pattern Alters Extracellular Matrix Synthesis in Fibroblast Populated Fibrin Gel Cruciforms and Correlates with Predicted Tension

E.A Sander, V.H Barocas and R.T Tranquillo
Annals of biomedical engineering, Vol.39(2), pp.714-729
02/2011
DOI: 10.1007/s10439-010-0192-2
PMCID: PMC3717318
PMID: 21046467
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3717318View
Open Access

Abstract

Human dermal fibroblasts entrapped in fibrin gels cast in cross-shaped (cruciform) geometries with 1:1 and 1:0.5 ratios of arm widths were studied to assess whether tension and alignment of the cells and fibrils affected ECM deposition. The cruciforms of contrasting geometry (symmetric vs. asymmetric), which developed different fiber alignment patterns, were harvested at 2, 5, and 10 weeks of culture. Cruciforms were subjected to planar biaxial testing, polarimetric imaging, DNA and biochemical analyses, histological staining, and SEM imaging. As the cruciforms compacted and developed fiber alignment, fibrin was degraded and elastin and collagen were produced in a geometry-dependent manner. Using a continuum mechanical model that accounts for direction-dependent stress due to cell traction forces and cell contact guidance with aligned fibers that occurs in the cruciforms, the mechanical stress environment was concluded to influence collagen deposition, with deposition being greatest in the narrow arms of the asymmetric cruciform where stress was predicted to be largest.
Mechanical Properties Collagen Fibrin Tension Remodeling

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