For mimicking the fibrous extracellular matrix(ECM), a facile method for patterning anticell adhesivesubstrate was novelly applied on agarose hydrogel. Withoutusing masks or templates for etching, we applied the magneticfield-induced colloidal assembly of magnetic nanoparticles onthe flat agarose hydrogel to form cell-adhesive micropatterns.
Meanwhile, tuning the hydrogel substrate’s modulus to fit realtissue was experimentally demonstrated. Magnetic nanobeadswere also assembled on this hydrogel surface and formed morecomplete and regular patterns. The patterned hydrogelsubstrate could actually influence behaviors of different cancer cells, including adhesion, growth, and migration.
