A Microwell Platform for Characterizing the Dynamic Response of Corneal Keratocytes to Biochemical and Biophysical Cues.

The interaction of corneal keratocytes with biochemical (e.g., composition, growth factors) and biophysical (e.g., topography) cues present in the cornea regulates their morphology during normal homeostasis and wound healing.

To investigate the roles of topography and protein composition on the dynamic features of cell spreading, cell protrusions, and cell motility, we cultured keratocytes on either hydrophobic-coated glass, aligned collagen fibrils, or monomeric collagen with or without a fibronectin coating.