Computational model for cell motion on asymmetric surfaces

Cell motility – the ability for a cell to move spontaneously from one location to another – provides a difficult challenge for computational modelling. Cell motility is essential for biological processes such as embryonic development, immune response, and wound healing. However, the interplay between the signaling proteins that control motility and the deformable boundary of a cell have not been captured in previous models. We have created a three-dimensional, physics-based model to describe cell motility that links a deformable boundary to an actin polarization vector field. The model can account for a variety of surrounding topography, including surfaces with features much smaller than the scale of the cell. In agreement with experiments, the model shows spontaneous polarization of cells on asymmetric surfaces. Additionally, we reproduced unidirectional guidance of cells on the ‘sawtooth’ surface that occurs in experiments and show a transition in guidance direction as model parameters change. These findings demonstrate that our model has predictive properties for cell dynamics on complex surfaces.