Pattern formation via cell–cell adhesion and contact inhibition of locomotion in active matter

Cell wetting and dewetting in soft substrates present a collection of non-cohesive cohesive patterns. Prediction this wide diversity is critical importance order to design experiments with polar active matter under confinement. Although vivo, cells the extracellular matrix (ECM) are enfolded by flexible substrates, at experimental realizations, hard boundaries frequently employed. Here, elastic forces exerted ECM—between deformable layer solid substrate—allow recast continuum model that takes account heterogeneous exchanges such as cell–substrate adhesion averaged repolarization due contact inhibition locomotion (CIL). Theoretical results show cell aggregation enforced increasing cell–cell decreasing CIL strength exhibit different phases from gaseous states liquids 3D clusters, agreement recent reports. diffusion grows rigidity increases, reduction ECM stiffness eases cluster formation. The findings work provide mechanisms drive resist unstable can be used predictability tool clustering migration experiments.