Overlooked? Underestimated? Effects of Substrate Curvature on Cell Behavior

Danielle Baptista; Liliana Teixeira; Clemens van Blitterswijk; Stefan Giselbrecht; Roman Truckenmüller

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.01.006

Overlooked? Underestimated? Effects of Substrate Curvature on Cell Behavior

Trends Biotechnol. 2019 Aug;37(8):838-854. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.01.006. Epub 2019 Mar 16.

Authors

Danielle Baptista¹, Liliana Teixeira², Clemens van Blitterswijk¹, Stefan Giselbrecht³, Roman Truckenmüller⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
² Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Developmental BioEngineering, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands; These authors contributed equally to this work.
⁴ Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands; These authors contributed equally to this work. Electronic address: r.truckenmuller@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

PMID: 30885388
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.01.006

Abstract

In biological systems, form and function are inherently correlated. Despite this strong interdependence, the biological effect of curvature has been largely overlooked or underestimated, and consequently it has rarely been considered in the design of new cell-material interfaces. This review summarizes current understanding of the interplay between the curvature of a cell substrate and the related morphological and functional cellular response. In this context, we also discuss what is currently known about how, in the process of such a response, cells recognize curvature and accordingly reshape their membrane. Beyond this, we highlight state-of-the-art microtechnologies for engineering curved biomaterials at cell-scale, and describe aspects that impair or improve readouts of the pure effect of curvature on cells.

Keywords: (I-)BAR domain protein; cell membrane; cell polarity; curvature; in vitro models; microtechnology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Biocompatible Materials*
Biomechanical Phenomena*
Cell Physiological Phenomena*
Surface Properties*

Substances

Biocompatible Materials