Mechanotaxis,alsoknownasdurotaxis,isthedirectedmovementofcellmotilityoroutgrowth,e.g.inthecaseofaxonaloutgrowth,eitherupordownarigiditygradient.Theserigiditygradientsareoftenpresentinbiomaterialsseededwithcellsofinterest,wherethegradientsareestablishedbyalteringthedegreeofcross-linkinginthepolymer.