The role of cell-matrix interactions in connective tissue mechanics

Living tissue is able to withstand large stresses in everyday life, yet it also actively adapts to dynamic loads. This remarkable mechanical behaviour emerges from the interplay between living cells and their non-living extracellular environment. Here we review recent insights into the biophysical mechanisms involved in the reciprocal...

Spheroid mechanics and implications for cell invasion

Spheroids are widely used in vitro 3D multicellular model systems that mimic complex physiological microenvironments of tissues. As different cell types vary in deformability and adhesion, the choice of (heterogeneous) cell composition will define overall spheroid mechanics, including their viscoelasticity and effective surface tension. These...

Intermediate Filaments in Cellular Mechanoresponsiveness: Mediating Cytoskeletal Crosstalk From Membrane to Nucleus and Back

The mammalian cytoskeleton forms a mechanical continuum that spans across the cell, connecting the cell surface to the nucleus via transmembrane protein complexes in the plasma and nuclear membranes. It transmits extracellular forces to the cell interior, providing mechanical cues that influence cellular decisions, but also actively generates...