The migration of cancer and normal cells in response to the surface topography and rigidity

Human melanoma cells (A2058) and human epidermalmelanocytes (HEMn) were used for this study. The soft substrata were fabricated by standard concentration (10:1) of polydimethylsiloxane. The surface patterns included cones and grooves with line width at 1 μm and 6 μm. Directional migration, parallel migration to the groove, was observed on groove surface, no clear preferred migration orientation on the cones and flat substrata. The frequency of cells moving along the groove decreased with smaller line width. Flat-top cone was the best surface morphology to influence the spreading area of melanoma cell. The migration speed on glass was the lowest. The highest speeds of A2058 and HEMn cells were 0.69 ± 0.06 and 1.01 ± 0.29 μm/min was obtained on the 6 μm cones and 1 μm grooves respectively.