Measurement of mechanical tractions exerted by cells in three-dimensional matrices

Wesley R. Legant, Jordan S. Miller, Brandon L. Blakely, Daniel M. Cohen, Guy M. Genin, Christopher S. Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

519 Scopus citations

Abstract

Quantitative measurements of cell-generated forces have heretofore required that cells be cultured on two-dimensional substrates. We describe a technique to quantitatively measure three-dimensional traction forces exerted by cells fully encapsulated in well-defined elastic hydrogel matrices. Using this approach we measured traction forces for several cell types in various contexts and revealed patterns of force generation attributable to morphologically distinct regions of cells as they extend into the surrounding matrix.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)969-971
Number of pages3
JournalNature Methods
Volume7
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2010

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