Polymer networks are complex systems consisting of molecular components. Whereas the
properties of the individual components are typically well understood by most chemists …

The mucus clearance system is the dominant mechanical host defense system of the human
lung. Mucus is cleared from the lung by cilia and airflow, including both two-phase gas-liquid …

The extracellular matrix (ECM) and its mechanical properties play an important role in
regulating the cellular responses that occur during tissue regeneration, wound healing, and …

Living systems operate far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Enzymatic activity can induce
broken detailed balance at the molecular scale. This molecular scale breaking of detailed …

Hydrogels are materials used in a variety of applications, ranging from tissue engineering to
drug delivery. The incorporation of nanoparticles to yield composite hydrogels has gained …

Since their invention in 1986 by Arthur Ashkin and colleagues, optical tweezers have
become an essential tool in several fields of physics, spectroscopy, biology …

Life emerges from thousands of biochemical processes occurring within a shared
intracellular environment. We have gained deep insights from in vitro reconstitution of …

As one increases the concentration of a colloidal suspension, the system exhibits a dramatic
increase in viscosity. Beyond a certain concentration, the system is said to be a colloidal …

Mucus is a complex hydrogel that acts as a natural barrier to drug delivery at different
mucosal surfaces including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and vaginal tracts. To elucidate …

Cells both actively generate and sensitively react to forces through their mechanical
framework, the cytoskeleton, which is a nonequilibrium composite material including …