Micro-Scale Strain Transfer in Fiber-Reinforced Native Tissue Is Distinct From Cell-Seeded Aligned Nanofibrous Scaffolds

Mechanical signals influence cell viability, differentiation, proliferation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) production in load-bearing tissues. However, the current understanding of how macroscopic tissue level strain is transferred to cells is confounded by the highly variable strain fields that arise within the ECM of these tissues. In tendon and outer annulus fibrosus (AF), microscale strains in the ECM can be significantly lower than the applied strains.^1,2,3 In meniscus, both strain amplification and attenuation were observed at the microscale level.⁴