How cells can sense and respond to invisible mechanical patterns—like built-in tensions around them

Researchers at IIT Bombay uncover how strain fields produced by embedded inhomogeneities within biomaterials influence cell alignment, reshaping our understanding of cell behaviour in development, disease, and tissue engineering. 

The research led by Professor Abhijit Majumder, was published in Cell Reports Physical Science. The findings not only add to the fundamental understanding of how cells organise themselves, but also have important implications for tissue engineering, cancer research, and wound healing.   

Statistical Mechanics of Biomaterial Self-Assembly and Dynamics Across Scales by Prof. Sayantan Dutta

In natural biological systems, self-organization occurs at multiple scales—from molecular self-assembly, organization of cytoskeletal elements, collective migration of cells to flocking of birds. In recent decades, advancements in microscopy, genetic engineering, biochemistry, and computational modeling have enabled us a more quantitative description of these processes. In this talk, I will show how tools from Statistical Mechanics can be used to develop predictive understanding from such quantitative data.

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