Data-driven traction force microscopy in 3D collagen hydrogels

2025 · doi:10.1101/2025.11.17.688772
preprint OA: closed CC-BY-4.0
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Abstract

Quantitative measurements of cell-generated forces in fibrillar hydrogels have traditionally modeled the extracellular matrix as a continuum. Here we present a data-driven 3D traction force microscopy (DD-TFM) approach that reconstructs discrete collagen fiber networks from second-harmonic generation images and assigns fiber mechanics calibrated by shear rheology. In silico tests confirm the robustness of an inverse force-recovery method, and application to cells in collagen reveals pulling patterns and fiber-level stress distributions.
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Abstract Quantitative measurements of cell-generated forces in fibrillar hydrogels have traditionally modeled the extracellular matrix as a continuum. Here we present a data-driven 3D traction force microscopy (DD-TFM) approach that reconstructs discrete collagen fiber networks from second-harmonic generation images and assigns fiber mechanics calibrated by shear rheology. In silico tests confirm the robustness of an inverse force-recovery method, and application to cells in collagen reveals pulling patterns and fiber-level stress distributions. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Footnotes ↵ζ Joint senior authorship Funder Information Declared Research Foundation - Flanders, https://ror.org/03qtxy027, 1259223N Convergence programme syn-cells for health Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license.

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License: CC-BY-4.0