Reversible switching of 3D microenvironments in extracellular matrices and effects on collagen fibers and cell morphology

The local three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment of a cell is known to affect it during various processes such as tissue morphogenesis, wound healing and cancer progression. However, the structural properties of the 3D microenvironment's extracellular matrix (ECM) does not usually change after the initial properties are set. This paper presents a method to dynamically and reversibly modify 3D ECM structure that alters its properties such as solute transport rate, cell spreading and mobility. In native tissues, changes in 3D microenvironments are associated with changes in cell growth, migration and differentiation.