Multiscale Simulations of Soft Contact and Adhesion of Stem Cells

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Our Simulations have shown that: (1) By using the proposed model, when a stem cell is in contact with a substrate, its contractile traction force will change depending on stiffness of the substrate; (2) with substrates of varying stiffness, the contraction of the cell nucleus differs; it appears that the stiffer the substrate, the more contraction the cell nucleus, and (3) the size of spreading area of the cell also depends on stiffness of the substrate as well.