Cell and Matrix Biomechanics in Physiology and Pathology
A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 8540
Special Issue Editors
Interests: My general research interest is in understanding the mechanisms by which physical forces are transduced into biologically relevant signals (mechanotransduction), and their role in the homoeostasis of key physiological processes whose alteration eventually leads to pathology or degeneration, such as in cancer or ageing (mechanobiology). Moreover, exploiting my technical background in physics and engineering, I'm also committed in developing enabling microscopy and spectroscopy tools to measure mechanical properties, image and manipulate biological objects at the level of cells and molecules (nanoengineering).
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: My research interests mainly focus on two topics. First, cellular biomechanics, as an approach to characterize living cells and distinguish between different cells types or physio/pathological conditions. Second, bioinformatics, carrying out activities on data analysis and interpretation from omics technologies, in particular genomic and transcriptomics high-throughput approaches. In addition, I developed interests in application of technology to biological and biomedical fields, exploiting my bioengineering background
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Biomechanics is the study of the mechanical aspects of biological systems. In fact, cells and tissues of organisms are constantly exposed to exogenous and endogenous forces, called biomechanical cues. The term “cell and matrix biomechanics” refers to the analysis of structures and functions present and enabled at the cellular and extracellular levels that are related to those cues. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is dynamic and provides both physical and functional cues that cells perceive and respond to through the process of mechanotransduction (PMID: 23681438). Biomechanical features usually include those related to both mechanical and morphological characteristics. The interest in investigating mechanics is related to the cruciality of the forces contributing to cell and tissue fate (PMID: 29183939). On the other hand, the interest in shape relies on the fact that structure and function are tightly connected, and this is especially true in the cellular and extracellular environments. Examples of this relation are the progressive change in shape and size observed during cell differentiation processes (PMID: 24034255; PMID: 32490503), and the response of cells to different nanopatterned substrates which mimic the dynamicity of the extracellular matrix (PMID: 32170111).
This Special Issue aims to better investigate the roles, activities, and effects of forces in living cells and in their environment. We invite scientists to contribute with original research articles and literature reviews that provide insights into the complex intracellular and extracellular activities at the mechanical and morphological levels that characterize the physiological and pathological conditions. We are particularly interested in contributions that investigate advanced and translational research on the morpho-mechanical aspects of cells and tissues, which could potentially contribute, in the future, to the early diagnosis of diseases and to novel therapies. Furthermore, basic research in the field is warmly appreciated.
Potential topics of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Nuclear and cellular mechanobiology in disease;
- Tissue mechanopathology;
- ECM involvement in physiological and pathological behaviors;
- Mechano-oncology, mechano-immunology, and mechano-therapeutics;
- Disease mechanobiology on chips;
- Mechanical features of 3D in vitro models;
- Mechanotransduction players and processes;
Prof. Dr. Massimo Vassalli
Dr. Federica Viti
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- cellular mechanics
- mechanobiology
- tissue biomechanics
- mechanical pathologies
- mechanotransduction
- ECM mechanics
- cell-ECM interaction
