Surface Functionalization Modulates Collective Cell Behavior Near Topological Defects Induced by Topographical Patterning
- 1Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
Abstract
Living cells establish long‐range orientational order through collective alignment, giving rise to topological defects whose functional relevance is increasingly recognized in tissue organization and morphogenesis. Engineered topographical patterns have been used to induce such defects in cell monolayers, mimicking natural biological phenomena. In this work, we investigate the effect of cell–surface adhesion on collective cell dynamics at a vortex integer topological defect imposed by a topographical ring pattern. Adhesion strength is controlled via surface functionalization with poly‐D‐lysine, fibronectin, or covalently bonded fibronectin, and quantified using atomic force microscopy. As surface chemistry is modified, cell morphology changes from irregular to spindle‐like, and two distinct collective modes emerge: weakly adhered cells exhibit strong inward motion, while strongly attached cells move tangentially to the ring. Spindle‐shaped cells exhibit higher nematic order and promote the emergence of two +1/2 topological defects in the monolayer. We further characterize collective cell dynamics by analyzing correlation lengths and demonstrate the scaling of number density fluctuations in cell systems.
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BibTeX
@article{awasthi2026surface,
title = {{Surface Functionalization Modulates Collective Cell Behavior Near Topological Defects Induced by Topographical Patterning}},
author = {Prasoon Awasthi and Aniruddh Murali and Ellen Juel Pørtner and Adam Cohen Simonsen and Francesca Serra},
journal = {Advanced Materials Interfaces},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1002/admi.70661},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.70661},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Surface Functionalization Modulates Collective Cell Behavior Near Topological Defects Induced by Topographical Patterning
AU - Prasoon Awasthi
AU - Aniruddh Murali
AU - Ellen Juel Pørtner
AU - Adam Cohen Simonsen
AU - Francesca Serra
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - Advanced Materials Interfaces
DO - 10.1002/admi.70661
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.70661
AB - Living cells establish long‐range orientational order through collective alignment, giving rise to topological defects whose functional relevance is increasingly recognized in tissue organization and morphogenesis. Engineered topographical patterns have been used to induce such defects in cell monolayers, mimicking natural biological phenomena. In this work, we investigate the effect of cell–surface adhesion on collective cell dynamics at a vortex integer topological defect imposed by a topographical ring pattern. Adhesion strength is controlled via surface functionalization with poly‐D‐lysine, fibronectin, or covalently bonded fibronectin, and quantified using atomic force microscopy. As surface chemistry is modified, cell morphology changes from irregular to spindle‐like, and two distinct collective modes emerge: weakly adhered cells exhibit strong inward motion, while strongly attached cells move tangentially to the ring. Spindle‐shaped cells exhibit higher nematic order and promote the emergence of two +1/2 topological defects in the monolayer. We further characterize collective cell dynamics by analyzing correlation lengths and demonstrate the scaling of number density fluctuations in cell systems.
SN - 2196-7350
ER -