  The study of the interactions of living adherent cells with mechanically
stable (visco)elastic materials enables understanding and exploiting
physiological phenomena mediated by cell-extracellular communication. However,
insight on the interaction of cells and surrounding objects with different
stability patterns upon cell contact might unveil cell responses that may be
engineered for innovative applications. Here, it is hypothesized that the
efficiency of cell attachment, spreading and movement across a free-packed
granular bed of microparticles depend on microparticle diameter, raising the
possibility of a necessary minimum traction force for the reinforcement of
cell-particle bonds, and long-term cell adhesion. The results suggest that
microparticles with 14-20 {\mu}m are prone to cell-mediated mobility, holding
the potential of inducing early cell detachment, while objects with diameters
from 38-85 {\mu}m enable long-lasting cell adhesion and proliferation. An
in-silico hybrid particle-based model that addresses time-dependent biological
mechanisms of cell adhesion is proposed, providing inspiration for engineering
platforms to address healthcare-related challenges.
