Elastomeric Pillar Cages Modulate Actomyosin Contractility of Epithelial Microtissues by Substrate Stiffness and Topography.

Cell contractility regulates epithelial tissue geometry development and homeostasis. The underlying mechanobiological regulation circuits are poorly understood and experimentally challenging. We developed an elastomeric pillar cage (EPC) array to quantify cell contractility as a mechanoresponse of epithelial microtissues to substrate stiffness and topography.