Migration and shape of cells on different interfaces

Impacts of microenvironments on cell migration have been reported in various interaction modes. A rapid tumor metastasis occurs along topological interfaces in vivo, such as the interface between the blood vessels and nerves. In this work, we culture MDA-MB231 cells at dish-liquid, dish-hydrogel, and hydrogel-liquid interfaces, respectively, to study how these different interfaces influence cell dynamics and morphology. Our results show that the migration mode of cells changes from an amoeboid motion to a mesenchymal motion but their speed do not change obviously if the interface changes from hydrogel-liquid to dish-liquid. In contrast, the migration mode of cells at a dish-hydrogel interface maintains as a mesenchymal motion, whereas their speed increases significantly. (paper)