Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41761820›Full record

ArticleMacromolecular bioscience2026

Light-Responsive Surface Topographies Modulate Macrophage Immune Responses Through Dynamic Mechanical Cues.

Oksana K Savchak, Ruth M C Verbroekken, Burcu Gumuscu, Albert P H J Schenning

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Macromolecular bioscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Oksana K SavchakBiosensors and Devices Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-0448-5343
Ruth M C VerbroekkenInstitute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.ORCID 0009-0008-4300-7970
Burcu GumuscuBiosensors and Devices Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-4843-4724
Albert P H J SchenningInstitute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-3485-1984

Funding

Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science 024.005.020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Understanding macrophage phenotype regulation by mechanical stimuli is a promising way to elucidate the body's inflammatory response and design new therapies. However, creating dynamic interfaces that allow precise, real-time, and reversible control over mechanical cues remains a challenge. In this study, we report the immunomodulatory effects of dynamic liquid crystal (LC) polymer films on in vitro macrophage responses. By utilizing reversible light-induced LC surface topographies, we generate dynamic mechanical stimuli on cells during topography formation and removal, enabling on-demand and reversible reprogramming of cell behavior. Our findings reveal a strong topographical shape-dependent cell response by examining the effects of flat, pillared, and grooved LC films on THP-1-derived macrophages. A strong increase in both pro- and anti-inflammatory markers is observed on grooves, while pillars maintain the anti-inflammatory profile without broad activation. Macrophages on LC film-generated topographies furthermore present distinct cytokine expression profiles. Notably, light-induced grooves triggered a stronger pro-remodeling cellular response, while pillars appeared to exert an inhibitory effect on macrophage activation. The dynamic topographies remarkably induced distinct changes in the macrophage membrane morphology, triggering migration-associated blebbing of the cell membrane in all cases except for grooves that promoted an increased degree of lamellipodia and filopodia formation. Overall, these results demonstrate that light-responsive LC surfaces provide a controllable platform for topography-dependent and adaptive immune modulation, opening opportunities for rational design of immunoregulatory scaffolds that exploit macrophage plasticity for regenerative medicine.

Indexed as

LightLiquid CrystalsMacrophage ActivationMacrophagesCytokinesHumansSurface PropertiesTHP-1 CellsCytokinesdynamic topographiesimmunomodulationlamellipodialiquid crystal polymersmacrophagemateriobiologymechanobiologyphenotype modulationphoto‐responsive materials

Identifiers

PMID41761820
PMCPMC12949457

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.