Quantification of Type, Timing, and Extent of Cell Body and Nucleus Deformations Caused by the Dimensions and Hydrophilicity of Square Prism Micropillars.

Novel digital analysis strategies are developed for the quantification of changes in the cytoskeletal and nuclear morphologies of mesenchymal stem cells cultured on micropillars. Severe deformations of nucleus and distinct conformational changes of cell body ranging from extensive elongation to branching are visualized and quantified. These deformations are caused mainly by the dimensions and hydrophilicity of the micropillars.