Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40413192›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

3D hydrogel platform with macromolecular actuators for precisely controlled mechanical forces on cancer cell migration.

Bohan Li, Qingyu Fu, Yan Lu, Cheng Chen, Yingshuai Zhao, Yuanfeng Zhao, Minghui Cao, Wei Zhou, Xiaoliang Fan, Xiaoyu Jiang and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Bohan Li *School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Qingyu Fu *School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Yan LuSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Cheng ChenSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Yingshuai ZhaoSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Yuanfeng ZhaoSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Minghui CaoSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Wei ZhouSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaoliang FanSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaoyu JiangSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Peng ZhaoSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Yijun ZhengSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China. zhengyj@shanghaitech.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-7135-8438

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mechanical forces play a critical role in regulating cancer cell behavior, particularly during metastasis. Here we present a three-dimensional hydrogel platform embedded with near-infrared-responsive macromolecular actuators that enable precise mechanical stimulation of specific integrin subtypes in cancer cells. By leveraging this system, we investigate how different force parameters-magnitude, frequency, and duration-affect the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cell spheroids, focusing on the integrins αvβ3 and αvβ6. We find that mechanical stimulation enhances collective invasion at early stages and triggers a mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition during later migration, especially when high-frequency, large-amplitude forces disrupt αvβ3-ligand interactions. In contrast, cells engaging αvβ6-through higher-affinity binding-show limited transition under similar conditions. Molecular simulations support these findings by revealing the underlying mechanics of integrin-specific responses. This 3D hydrogel platform provides a powerful tool for studying mechanotransduction in cancer cells and offers potential insights for developing targeted cancer therapies.

Indexed as

Cell MovementHydrogelsOvarian NeoplasmsCell Line, TumorFemaleHumansIntegrin alphaVbeta3IntegrinsMechanotransduction, CellularSpheroids, CellularHydrogelsIntegrin alphaVbeta3Integrins

Identifiers

PMID40413192
PMCPMC12103621

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.