Regensburg 2025 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 18: Tissue Mechanics

BP 18.4: Talk

Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 10:30–10:45, H44

a novel 3D platform for investigating cancer cell migration and tissue organization under mechanical load — •Mattias Luber, Bruno Schmelz, Mahboubeh Farajian, and Timo Betz — Third Institute of Physics - University of Göttingen - Germany

Recent advances in tissue engineering and mechanobiology have highlighted the critical role of mechanical forces in guiding cellular organization and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Building on these findings, we introduce a novel platform for engineering connective tissues that facilitates high-resolution live imaging of self-organization and ECM remodeling under diverse experimental conditions. This platform employs controlled mechanical loading to induce fibroblast alignment, resulting in the formation of highly organized tissue structures. By enabling both global and localized measurements of tissue tension and providing precise control over mechanical load, it allows for the detailed investigation of ECM remodeling, cellular dynamics, and nuclear deformation. A key application of this platform is in uncovering how mechanical properties of the tissue environment influence cancer cell behavior. By integrating models of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, we demonstrated how variations in tissue tension and ECM structure directly modulate cancer cell migration patterns. These findings highlight the critical interplay between mechanical forces and cellular invasiveness, providing insights into the biomechanical drivers of cancer progression.

Keywords: Cancer Migration; Mechanical Load; 3D Tissue; Engineered Connective Tissue