Fig. 1: The design and operational mechanism of the hydrogel platform.

Schematic of cell migration manipulation using a 3D DexMA hydrogel platform functionalized with molecular actuators CD-PNIPAM-Ligand, modulated by NIR light. The cell spheroid is encapsulated within the hydrogel. When functionalized with two different subtype-specific peptidomimetic ligands—RGD for αvβ3 and RTDLDSLRT (referred to as RTD) for αvβ6—distinct cell migration patterns were observed after 4 days under various force application parameters.