Compared to the unstrained control cells, what was observed in cells loaded with equiaxial strain?

In tissue engineering, applying mechanical strain can profoundly influence cellular behavior and morphology. When cells are subjected to equiaxial strain, which involves uniform stretching in all directions, they adapt to their new environment by modifying their shape and arrangement.

The correct observation is that these cells demonstrate an elongated morphology and appear aligned. This response is a result of mechanotransduction, the process by which cells sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. Under equiaxial strain, cells tend to elongate along the direction of the force applied, allowing them to better resist deformation, maintain structural integrity, and improve mechanical function. Additionally, this alignment is crucial for certain tissue types, as it can enhance cell-to-cell communication and improve overall tissue functionality.

In contrast, cells in the control group without strain maintain their original, more rounded morphology, which lacks the adaptations seen under mechanical loading. Therefore, the observation that cells under equiaxial strain become elongated and aligned is consistent with the known impacts of mechanical stress on cell behavior in tissue engineering applications.