Study on the biophysical interactions of cells with fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix

Abstract

In-vivo, cells grow continuously exposed to multiple stimuli such as nutrients, growth factors, and drugs. To understand the microenvironment of tissues, the study is necessary the biomechanical interactions between cells and extracellular matrix as well as biochemical effects. Especially, the microenvironment is changed by the cell, and the bidirectional interaction in which the cell adapts by the changed microenvironment is continued. The reciprocal interactions between cells and microenvironment are caused by the circulation process in which the adaptation of cells due to the modification of cell-mediated microenvironment. In this dissertation, we develop the 3-dimensional (3D) fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix (fdECM) niche based on the cell-secreted multi-components of ECM and naturally crosslinked network. Second, it is investigate the dynamics of mechanical remodeling of fdECM mediated by cellular behaviors such as locomotion and cell division. We also explored the morphogentic application for vascular network formation in fdECM niche.