Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41003394›Full record

ArticleJournal of functional biomaterials2025

Enhanced Unidirectional Cell Migration Induced by Asymmetrical Micropatterns with Nanostructures.

Kaixin Chen, Yuanhao Xu, Stella W Pang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of functional biomaterials, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

3 authors.

Kaixin ChenDepartment of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Yuanhao XuDepartment of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Stella W PangDepartment of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.ORCID 0000-0002-4330-0877

Funding

Center for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology (CBNN) of City University of Hong Kong 9360148 and 9380062Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China CityU11207821 and CityU11205423
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Directed cell migration is crucial for numerous biological processes, including tissue regeneration and cancer metastasis. However, conventional symmetrical micropatterns typically result in bidirectional cell migration guidance instead of unidirectional guidance. In this study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based platforms with asymmetrical arrowhead micropatterns, nanopillars, and selective fibronectin coating were developed to enhance unidirectional cell migration. The platforms were fabricated using nanoimprint lithography and PDMS replication techniques, allowing for precise control over surface topography and biochemical modification. The MC3T3 osteoblastic cells cultured on these platforms demonstrated significantly enhanced directional migration, characterized by increased displacement, and directional alignment with micropattern orientation compared to symmetrical patterns. Quantitative analyses revealed that asymmetrical arrowheads combined with nanopillars induced more focal adhesions and F-actin polarization at cell front regions, supporting the observed unidirectional cell migration enhancement. These results confirm that integrating micropattern asymmetry, nanoscale features, and biochemical functionalization synergistically promotes unidirectional cell migration. The developed platforms offer valuable insights and practical strategies for designing advanced biomaterials capable of precise spatial cell guidance that can be applied to the designs of organ-on-a-chip systems.

Indexed as

asymmetrical patternsfibronectinnanofabricationnanostructuresosteoblast cellsunidirectional cell migration

Identifiers

PMID41003394
PMCPMC12470623

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.