Tissue Engineering, 2nd Edition

Chapter 7

Cell–Material Interactions

Penelope M. Tsimbouri, Laura E. McNamara, Enateri V. Alakpa, Matthew J. Dalby,  and Lesley-Anne Turner     Centre for Cell Engineering, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Abstract

Cells can interpret information from their extracellular environment by turning physical cues into biochemical signals (mechanotransduction). Such physical cues may be in the form of surface chemistry (inherent or grafted), topography (macro, micro, or nanoscale in size) and stiffness (tissues have varying hardness from soft fat or nerve tissue to hard bone tissue). Using cell adhesion sites, cells alter ...