A programmable platform for the study of active wrinkle patterns and cell migration directed by dynamic curvotaxis
Abstract
Surface wrinkle instabilities in bilayer soft materials underpin a wide range of applications, from tunable optics to metrology and mechanobiology. We present a novel technique for dynamic, reconfigurable wrinkle patterns: exposing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cylindrical block to infrared laser creates a micrometer thick, highly cross-linked rigid layer. Subsequent uniaxial compression generates sinusoidal wrinkles oriented perpendicular to the compression direction. Dynamic reconfiguration via a custom rotation device involves wrinkle rotation, fragmentation, and reassociation, exhibiting S-like bending, defect nucleation, propagation, and annihilation. These dynamics are qualitatively captured by the anisotropic Swift-Hohenberg equation. The experimental setup is compatible with upright confocal microscopy, enabling real-time visualization of cellular interactions with evolving wrinkle topography. Living cells attach, migrate, and align/coordinate with traveling waves. This work opens new avenues for investigating cell migration guided by dynamic substrate curvature and introduces a versatile platform for dynamic surface control and studying topological defect physics.
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BibTeX
@article{cao2026programmable,
title = {{A programmable platform for the study of active wrinkle patterns and cell migration directed by dynamic curvotaxis}},
author = {Khoa Dang Cao and Ismail Tahmaz and Hung Quoc Tran and Marie-Ly Chapon and Tatiana Petithory and Aissam Airoudj and Patrick Lamielle and Luc Delmotte and Carole Arnold and Karine Anselme and Ian Manifacier and Gildas Carlin and Maxime Vassaux and Laurent Pieuchot and Jean-Louis Milan and Valeriy Luchnikov},
journal = {Cell Reports Physical Science},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103520},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05738189v2},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A programmable platform for the study of active wrinkle patterns and cell migration directed by dynamic curvotaxis
AU - Khoa Dang Cao
AU - Ismail Tahmaz
AU - Hung Quoc Tran
AU - Marie-Ly Chapon
AU - Tatiana Petithory
AU - Aissam Airoudj
AU - Patrick Lamielle
AU - Luc Delmotte
AU - Carole Arnold
AU - Karine Anselme
AU - Ian Manifacier
AU - Gildas Carlin
AU - Maxime Vassaux
AU - Laurent Pieuchot
AU - Jean-Louis Milan
AU - Valeriy Luchnikov
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/30
JO - Cell Reports Physical Science
DO - 10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103520
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05738189v2
AB - Surface wrinkle instabilities in bilayer soft materials underpin a wide range of applications, from tunable optics to metrology and mechanobiology. We present a novel technique for dynamic, reconfigurable wrinkle patterns: exposing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cylindrical block to infrared laser creates a micrometer thick, highly cross-linked rigid layer. Subsequent uniaxial compression generates sinusoidal wrinkles oriented perpendicular to the compression direction. Dynamic reconfiguration via a custom rotation device involves wrinkle rotation, fragmentation, and reassociation, exhibiting S-like bending, defect nucleation, propagation, and annihilation. These dynamics are qualitatively captured by the anisotropic Swift-Hohenberg equation. The experimental setup is compatible with upright confocal microscopy, enabling real-time visualization of cellular interactions with evolving wrinkle topography. Living cells attach, migrate, and align/coordinate with traveling waves. This work opens new avenues for investigating cell migration guided by dynamic substrate curvature and introduces a versatile platform for dynamic surface control and studying topological defect physics.
SN - 2666-3864
ER -