Padhi et al. employ nanofibers with controlled structure and alignment as an extra-cellular matrix model, on which they study the exertion of forces from adherent fibroblasts. Identifying force exerting 3D perpendicular lateral protrusions, authors describe a mechanism which leads to the contraction of parallel, neighbouring fibers, and the forces needed to move and align the neighbouring fibers. These findings have relevance in understanding cancer-associated desmoplastic expansion.
- Abinash Padhi
- Karanpreet Singh
- Amrinder S. Nain
