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SUMMARY:Cell sensing of the nanoscale topography and mechanics of the ECM 
 – An engineered matrix perspective
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: The mechanical properties and nanotopography of the e
 xtracellular matrix have an important impact on cell phenotype. Such physi
 cal cues have been shown to regulate cell adhesion and spreading\, cell mo
 tility\, proliferation and differentiation in a wide range of cells\, stem
  cells and in cancer. However\, detailed mechanisms underlying mechanical 
 and nanotopography sensing remain unclear. We are interested in developing
  nanoscale engineered extra-cellular matrices to study such mechanisms. In
  particular\, we show that focal adhesions\, typically regarded as essenti
 al mechanosensors\, are not primary sensors of nano-scale geometry of the 
 ECM and that the dynamics of the microscale acto-myosin network acts inste
 ad as a global sensor of the ECM nanoscale geometry. In contrast\, our res
 ults demonstrate that mechanosensing occurs primarily at the nanoscale: we
  show that cells can directly sense the nanoscale mechanics of their envir
 onment. Indeed\, we made the surprising observation that adherent cells ca
 n spread and proliferate at the surface of low viscosity liquids. We disco
 vered that cell adhesion to such liquid substrates is mediated by the asse
 mbly of a protein nanosheet\, at the interface between the two liquids (an
  oil and the tissue culture medium). The strength of these nanosheets\, de
 pending on parameters regulating their assembly\, can sustain shear forces
  generated by cells during their spreading and\, in turn\, regulate stem c
 ell phenotype. Our results suggest that nanoscale mechanical properties of
  biomaterials may dominate over bulk physical properties. This concept has
  important implications for the design of biomaterials in the field of reg
 enerative medicine.\nJulien Gautrot is a Professor in Biomaterials and Bio
 interfaces in the School of Engineering and Materials Science and Engineer
 ing at Queen Mary\, University of London. His research focuses on the deve
 lopment of biointerfaces and microengineered biomaterials for stem cell te
 chnologies and the design of advanced cell cultured models (e.g. organ-on-
 chips). In particular\, he developed polymer coatings\, hydrogels and micr
 ofabrication platforms that are used for the formation of artificial stem 
 cell niches and microenvironments for stem cell expansion\, and the assemb
 ly of micro-tissues. He has published over 70 research articles\, includin
 g in journals such as Chem. Rev.\, Nat. Mater.\, Nat. Cell Biol.\, Angew. 
 Chem. Int. Ed.\, ACS Nano\, Advanced Functional Materials and Nano Letters
 . In 2017\, he was awarded an ERC consolidator grant. Since 2016\, Dr Gaut
 rot is the Director for Research of the Division of Bioengineering in the 
 School of Engineering and Materials Science.\nSee:\nhttp://biointerfaces.q
 mul.ac.uk/\nACS Nano 2018\, 12 (9)\, 9206-9213.\nNano Lett. 2018\, 18 (3)\
 , 1946-1951.\nFaraday Discuss. 2017\, 204\, 367-381.\nActa Biomater. 2017\
 , 50\, 280-292.\nActa Biomater. 2016\, 30\, 26-48.\nNano Lett. 2014\, 14\,
  3945-3952.\n 
URL:https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/96462/cell-sensing-of-the-nanoscale-t
 opography-and-mechanics-of-the-ecm-an-engineered-matrix-perspective/
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20191028T120000
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LOCATION:United Kingdom
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