Force-sensing micropillar arrays for cell mechanics and mechanobiology

Abstract Cells are sensitive to their surrounding microenvironment. The microscopic length scale of single cells makes it challenging to study how cells sense, interpret, and transform complex microenvironmental cues into cellular responses. The micropost and micropillar array fabricated using biocompatible elastomers has been shown as a useful tool to investigate cell-generated dynamic forces in response to microenvironmental cues. Such studies provide important insights into the underlying mechanism of cellular mechanotransduction. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the fabrication and functionalization of micropillar and micropost arrays and highlight the utility of these systems for cell mechanics and mechanobiological studies.