Collective dynamics and self-organization of active particles on random networks

Collective cell migration in 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucial to many physiological and pathological processes. Migrating cells can generate pulling forces via actin filament contraction, which are transmitted to the ECM fibers and lead to a dynamically evolving force network in the system. Here, we elucidate the role of such force network in regulating collective cell behaviors using a minimal active-particle-on-network (APN) model, in which particles can pull the fibers and hop between neighboring nodes of the network following local durotaxis. Our model reveals a dynamic transition as the particle number density approaches a critical value, from an absorbing state containing isolated stationary small particle clusters, to a active state containing a single large cluster undergone constant dynamic reorganization. This reorganization is dominated by a subset of highly dynamic radical particles in the cluster, whose number also exhibits a transition at the same critical density. The transition is underlaid by the percolation of influence spheres due to the particle pulling forces. Our results suggest a robust mechanism based on ECM-mediated mechanical coupling for collective cell behaviors in 3D ECM.