Figure 2: Morphological response of bone marrow-derived, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on PDPA50-PMPC250-PDPA50 copolymer gels.

Phase contrast images of hMSCs at t = 10 d on (a) stiff (E = 40 kPa) and (b) soft (E = 2 kPa) substrates. Fluorescence images of phalloidin-labeled actin (green) at t = 10 d on (c) stiff (E = 40 kPa) and (d) soft (E = 2 kPa) substrates. The order parameters <S> of actin cytoskeletons can be extracted from the pixel orientation maps calculated from the original images are presented as insets.