The exertion of mechanical forces by cells is critically involved in fundamental processes such as developmental morphogenesis, wound healing, and the reorganization of bioengineered tissues. 

Most previous studies of cell mechanical behavior have used planar elastic substrates. However, cells reside within 3-D extracellular matrices in vivo, and matrix geometry has been shown to effect both cell morphology and adhesion organization.

Our laboratory recently developed a new experimental model for directly investigating cell-matrix mechanical interactions inside 3-D fibrillar collagen matrices, using high magnification time-lapse imaging. Using this approach, changes in the sub-cellular organization of fluorescently-tagged proteins can be quantitatively correlated with the pattern of cell-induced matrix deformation.

We are using this new model to study how both biochemical and biophysical signals can be used to modulate corneal fibroblast mechanical behavior within 3-D matrices in real-time.

Learn more about Matt Petroll and the Ophthalmology Department's other basic research.