Since material stiffness controls many cell functions, we reviewed the currently available
knowledge on stiffness sensing and elucidated what is known in the context of clinical and …

The exquisite cartilage architecture maintains an orderly dynamic equilibrium as a result of
the interplay between chondrocyte functions and the unique extracellular matrix (ECM) …

In vivo cartilage is in a state of constant mechanical stimulation. It is therefore reasonable to
deduce that mechanical forces play an important role in cartilage formation. Mechanical …

Recent studies demonstrate that chondrocytes in native articular cartilage and in tissue‐
engineered constructs respond to mechanical stimuli through multiple regulatory pathways …

Mechanical stimuli have fundamental roles in articular cartilage during health and disease.
Chondrocytes respond to the physical properties of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) …

Mechanical factors play a crucial role in the development of articular cartilage in vivo. In this
regard, tissue engineers have sought to leverage native mechanotransduction pathways to …

Tissue cells sense and respond to differences in substrate stiffness. In chondrocytes, it has
been shown that substrate stiffness regulates cell spreading, proliferation, chondrogenic …

In mammals, mechanics at multiple stages—nucleus to cell to ECM—underlie multiple
physiological and pathological functions from its development to reproduction to death …

Despite great progress in biomaterial design strategies for replacing damaged articular
cartilage, prevention of stem cell-derived chondrocyte hypertrophy and resulting inferior …

The mechanical behavior of soft tissue extracellular matrix is time dependent. Moreover, it
evolves over time due to physiological processes as well as aging and disease. Measuring …