A5079387047- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Collagen: Extraction and Characterization
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Tendon Structure and Treatment
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation
- biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
- Dental Implant Techniques and Outcomes
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Polysaccharides Composition and Applications
- Skin and Cellular Biology Research
- Nanofabrication and Lithography Techniques
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Surgical Sutures and Adhesives
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Bone fractures and treatments
- Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications
- Bone health and osteoporosis research
KU Leuven
2019-2025
IMEC
2022-2024
Universidad de Zaragoza
1970-2019
Tissues achieve their complex spatial organization through an interplay between gene regulatory networks, cell-cell communication, and physical interactions mediated by mechanical forces. Current strategies to generate in-vitro tissues have largely failed implement such active, dynamically coordinated manipulations, relying instead on extracellular matrices which respond to, rather than impose Here, we develop devices that enable the actuation of organoids. We show active forces increase...
Cells continuously sense external forces from their microenvironment, the extracellular matrix (ECM). In turn, they generate contractile forces, which stiffen and remodel this matrix. Although bidirectional mechanical exchange is crucial for many cell functions, it remains poorly understood. Key challenges are that majority of available matrices such studies, either natural or synthetic, difficult to control lack biological relevance. Here, we use a yet highly biomimetic hydrogel based on...
Abstract Blood vessel formation relies on biochemical and mechanical signals, particularly during sprouting angiogenesis when endothelial tip cells (TCs) guide through filopodia formation. The contribution of BMP receptors in defining tip-cell characteristics is poorly understood. Our study combines genetic, biochemical, molecular methods together with 3D traction force microscopy, which reveals an essential role BMPR2 for actin-driven properties (ECs). Targeting Bmpr2 reduced zebrafish...
Focal adhesions (FAs) are mechanosensitive structures that mediate force transmission between cells and the extracellular matrix. While Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) quantifies cellular tractions exerted on deformable substrates, Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-based tension probes, such as Vinculin Tension Sensors (VinTS), measure molecular-scale forces within FA proteins. Despite their potential synergy, these methods have rarely been combined to explore interplay molecular...
The colony forming assay (CFA) stands as a cornerstone technique for evaluating the clonal expansion ability of single cancer cells and is crucial assessing drug efficacy. However, traditional CFAs rely on labor-intensive, endpoint manual counting, offering limited insights into dynamic effects treatment. To overcome these limitations, we developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted automated CFA combining time-lapse microscopy real-time tracking formation. Using B-acute lymphoblastic...
Abstract Cell migration through a three‐dimensional (3‐D) matrix depends strongly on the ability of cells to generate traction forces. To overcome steric hindrance matrix, need sufficiently high forces but also distribute these spatially in migration‐promoting way. This unit describes protocol measure spatial maps cell 3‐D biopolymer networks such as collagen, fibrin, or Matrigel. Traction are computed from relationship between measured force‐induced deformations surrounding and known...
The recent development of bone-on-chips (BOCs) holds the main advantage requiring a low quantity cells and material, compared to traditional In Vitro models. By incorporating hydrogels within BOCs, culture system moved three dimensional environment for which is more representative bone tissue matrix function. fundamental components hydrogel-based namely cellular sources, hydrogel chamber, have been tuned mimic hematopoietic niche in aspirate marrow, cancer metastasis osteo/chondrogenic...
Microfluidic devices allow for the production of physiologically relevant cellular microenvironments by including biomimetic hydrogels and generating controlled chemical gradients. During transport, biomolecules interact in distinct ways with fibrillar networks: as purely diffusive factors soluble fluid or bound to matrix proteins. These two main mechanisms may regulate cell responses order guide their directional migration: caused substrate-bound chemoattractant gradient (haptotaxis)...
We present a new inverse and physically-consistent traction force microscopy method developed implemented in the context of 3D nonlinear elasticity. prove its enhanced accuracy applying it to real cases cells cultured hydrogel.
Abstract Collagen microstructure is closely related to the mechanical properties of tissues and affects cell migration through extracellular matrix. To study these structures, three-dimensional (3D) in vitro collagen-based gels are often used, attempting mimic natural environment cells. Some key parameters fiber orientation, length, or pore size, which define network therefore condition behavior. In present study, an automated tool reconstruct 3D collagen networks used extract aforementioned...
Traction force microscopy (TFM) allows to estimate tractions on the surface of cells when they mechanically interact with hydrogel substrates that mimic extracellular matrix (ECM). The field mechanobiology has a strong interest in using TFM 3D vitro models. However, there are number challenges hamper accuracy and often bypassed. In this study, computational efficiency TFM, referred traction reconstruction from synthetically generated (control) ground truth solutions, assessed four different...
Advances in methods for determining the forces exerted by cells while they migrate are essential attempting to understand important pathological processes, such as cancer or angiogenesis, among others. Precise data from three-dimensional conditions both difficult obtain and manipulate. For this purpose, it is critical develop workflows which experiments closely linked subsequent computational postprocessing. The work presented here starts a traction force microscopy (TFM) experiment carried...
Immune cells such as natural killer (NK) migrate with high speeds of several µm/min through dense tissue, but the traction forces are unknown. We present a method to measure dynamic fast migrating in non-linear biopolymer matrices. The accounts for mechanical non-linearity 3D tissue matrix and can be applied time series confocal or bright-field image stacks. is highly sensitive over large range object sizes, from ∼1 nN axon growth cones up ∼10 µN mouse intestinal organoids. find that NK...
Abstract Traction force microscopy (TFM) allows to estimate tractions on the surface of cells when they mechanically interact with hydrogel substrates that mimic extracellular matrix (ECM). The field mechanobiology has a strong interest in using TFM 3D vitro models. However, there are number challenges hamper accuracy and often bypassed. In this study, computational efficiency TFM, referred traction reconstruction from synthetically generated (control) ground truth solutions, assessed four...