ECMstivhet

ECMstivhet is a term used to describe the stiffness or rigidity of the extracellular matrix (ECM), the fibrous network that provides structural support to tissues and mediates signaling between cells and their surroundings. Stiffness arises from the composition and organization of ECM components such as collagen and elastin, the degree of cross‑linking, water content, and the activity of matrix remodeling enzymes. Higher cross‑linking and increased collagen deposition typically raise stiffness, while softer matrices have lower resistance to deformation.

Measuring ECMstivhet involves techniques that probe mechanical properties, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation, rheology, nanoindentation, or traction force microscopy. Stiffness is commonly reported in pascals (Pa) or kilopascals (kPa). Different tissues exhibit characteristic ranges, for example, soft brain tissue is on the order of hundreds of pascals to a few kilopascals, while skeletal muscle and ligament matrices are in the low to mid kilopascal range, and mineralized tissues or highly cross‑linked matrices can exceed tens of kilopascals.

Biological significance lies in mechanotransduction: cells sense ECMstivhet through integrins and focal adhesions, translating mechanical cues into changes in adhesion, spreading, migration, and gene expression. Stiffness influences cell fate decisions, such as stem cell differentiation, and can affect processes like wound healing, fibrosis, and cancer progression. In research and biotechnology, ECMstivhet is a key parameter for designing biomaterials and scaffolds that guide tissue regeneration and disease modeling.