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Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Science) >

2023 , Vol. 28 >Issue 4: 495

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12204-022-2542-2

Medicine-Engineering Interdisciplinary Research

Substrate Stiffness and Topography Affect the Morphology of Human Fibroblasts in Mechanical Microenvironment

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  • (1. Institute of Biomedical Engineering; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Material Strength & Structural Impact; Research Center for Nano-Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine; College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China; 2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; 3. Dermatology Department, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan 030032, China)

Received date: 2021-12-01

  Accepted date: 2021-12-15

  Online published: 2023-07-31

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Abstract

Hyperplastic scar is a common fibrotic disease that may ultimately lead to severe dysfunction anddeformity, causing physical and psychological distress. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the effect of the mechanicalmicroenvironment of scar substrates on the morphology of human fibroblasts (HFbs). The micro-modular fabrication technique was used to design a new cross-groove topology and to construct four elastic substrates withthe stiffness of 19.3 kPa and 90.1 kPa coupled with parallel groove and cross groove, respectively, to simulate themechanical microenvironment of skin wounds and scar tissues. The morphological changes in HFbs in differentsubstrates were observed, and the changes in the cell-long axis length, area, and the angle between cell-long axisand grooves were recorded. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to observe the distribution of microfilaments. The results indicated that substrate stiffness and topography affected the morphology of HFbs. The cellswere elongated in parallel grooves as well as in the area where cross grooves restricted groove length, the celllength was restricted, and the angle between the long axis and the groove was increased. The topography exertedno significant effect on the cell area, but the cell area increased with increasing the stiffness. The parallel groovepromoted the expression of the F-actin to a certain extent, and the fluorescence intensity of F-actin decreased withincreasing the stiffness. Studying the effect of the mechanical microenvironment of substrates on HFb morphologyis of great importance for understanding the mechanisms of scar formation and prevention.

Key words： mechanical micro-environment, matrix stiffness, topological structure, fibroblast

Cite this article

LIU Yang-,2 (刘阳), WANG Yajing- (王雅靖)，WEN Daweil (温大渭)，ZHANG Quanyoul (张全有), WANG Li (王立)，AN Meiwen1* (安美文), LIU Yong3* (刘勇) . Substrate Stiffness and Topography Affect the Morphology of Human Fibroblasts in Mechanical Microenvironment[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Science), 2023 , 28(4) : 495 . DOI: 10.1007/s12204-022-2542-2

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