论文部分内容阅读
Extracellular matrix (ECM) strongly influences cellular behaviors, including proliferation,adhesion, and migration.In cancer, the rigidity of the stromal collagen environment is thought to control tumor aggressiveness, and collagen alignment has been linked to tumor celt invasion.While the mechanical properties of collagen at both the single fiber scale and the bulk gel scale are quite well studied, how the fiber network responds to local stress or deformation, both structurally and mechanically, is poorly understood.This intermediate scale knowledge is important to understanding cell-ECM interactions and is the focus of this study.