Geometric considerations of micro- to nanoscale elastomeric post arrays to study cellular traction forces

Micro- to nanoscale elastomeric post arrays with different post geometries were used to probe the effects of local substrate architecture on cell spreading and traction force generation in adherent cells (see figure). As post density increases, cell morphology on the post arrays increasingly resembles that of cells on continuous substrates. In addition, contractile strain energy generated by cells remained constant across substrates with different post stiffness or adhesive surface area.