Much of our understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie cellular functions,
such as migration, differentiation and force-sensing has been garnered from studying cells …

The emergence of tissue engineering raises new possibilities for the study of complex
physiological and pathophysiological processes in vitro. Many tools are now available to …

Stem cells respond to nanoscale surface features, with changes in cell growth and
differentiation mediated by alterations in cell adhesion. The interaction of nanotopographical …

Cell migration is an adaptive process that depends on and responds to physical and
molecular triggers. Moving cells sense and respond to tissue mechanics and induce …

Although the biological functions of cell and tissue can be regulated by biochemical factors
(eg, growth factors, hormones), the biophysical effects of materials on the regulation of …

The modulus of elasticity of the extracellular matrix (ECM), often referred to in a biological
context as “stiffness,” naturally varies within the body, eg, hard bones and soft tissue …

Biological processes are dynamic in nature, and growing evidence suggests that matrix
stiffening is particularly decisive during development, wound healing and disease; yet …

Arterial stiffening occurs with age and is closely associated with the progression of
cardiovascular disease. Stiffening is most often studied at the level of the whole vessel …

Integrins bind extracellular matrix fibrils and associate with intracellular actin filaments
through a variety of cytoskeletal linker proteins to mechanically connect intracellular and …

Simple Summary The formation of new blood vessels from already existing ones is a
process of high clinical relevance, since it is of great importance for both physiological and …