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.
Cells follow very specific patterns, for instance, muscle fibres are aligned parallel to each other to enable coordinated movements, blood vessels extend toward wounds to facilitate healing, and cells in the eye are arranged radially to help focus light precisely onto the retina, ensuring clear and accurate vision. Such precise spatial organisation is essential for proper tissue function.