| Measuring extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is central to understanding physiological processes such as breast epithelial morphogenesis. The physical properties of the extracellular medium can drive epithelial cell development and structure formation. Cell-mediated contraction allows cells to sense microenvironment rigidity and adapt with suitable mechanosignaling responses. These cell responses suggest that unique phenotypic outcomes can result from reciprocal cell-ECM interactions triggered by unique cellular microenvironments. Existing setups lack the ability to provide real-time, 3D local stiffness measurements while assessing ECM microstructure. The ability to access these data will enable direct monitoring of cell phenotype and cancer progression in the context of ECM stiffness and organization. In this work, a platform and technique are introduced capable of making real-time 3D in vitro microscale stiffness measurements while visualizing ECM interstitial space and collagen network. The development of this research will enable closer examination of the cell-microenvironment interaction and perhaps provide insight in epithelial-based pathogenesis. |
