Computational model for 3D cell migration through a viscoelastic extracellular matrix

Cell Migration is important for many physiological processes, such as embryonic development and wound healing, and it also underlies cancer metastasis. Recent studies have shown that the complex biophysical properties of the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) are critical for cell migration. Furthermore, while the mechanisms of cell migration in 2D have been relatively well-studied, how cells mechanically interact with their environment during 3D cell migration remains less understood. In contrast to 2D cell migration, 3D cell migration requires cells to remodel and/or squeeze through dense ECM networks, which causes cell migration in 3D to be significantly more challenging. Therefore, we have worked on developing a discrete agent-based computational model to help understand how cells mechanically navigate through a 3D viscoelastic ECM during single and collective cell migration. In the model, we explicitly account for binding kinetics between matrix fibers, cell protrusions, and focal adhesions between cells and the surrounding ECM. By explicitly accounting for these transient interactions, we believe that our model will help elucidate the biophysical mechanisms of cell migration through complex 3D environments.