Research projects
Cancer progression is associated with changes of the cytoskeletal architecture and E-cadherin expression, which are thought to promote malignancy and metastasis by changing the mechanics and adhesiveness of cancer cells that migrate through tight interstitial spaces to invade to distant organ sites. Using microfabricated devices and 3D novel biomaterials, we seek to determine the cellular energetic cost of migration in confined spaces and understand the role of the nuclear deformability. We are particularly interested in short- and long-term consequences of the mechanical stress on the nucleus, including chromatin (re)organization and genomic instability. We hope that this work will uncover new therapeutic targets designed to prevent metastasis especially in breast cancer.
Cancer cell migration
We study the collective behavior of epithelial cells in terms of cell polarity and migration. To this aim, we develop microfabricated tools and microforce assays to control the physico-chemical environment of cell assemblies. By combining these tools with advanced imaging techniques, we investigate how the physical properties of the cell microenvironment modulate collective cell migration. We use well-designed cell clusters to decipher the role of cell-cell junctions and how physical constraints, such as the spatial confinement, can lead to emergent dynamical and mechanical properties of epithelial tissues.
D. Mohammed et al. Nature Physics 15, 858-866 (2019)
M. Versaevel et al. Scientific Reports 11, 1-11 (2021)
Riaz et al. Scientific Reports 6, 1-14 (2016)
Single and collective
cell migration
Mechanical memory in confining migration
Time-lapse sequence of the back and forth motion of a single epithelial cell (MCF-10A) migrating on a dumbbell-shaped micropattern composed of a thin bridge of 6 µm wide and 160 µm long connected to deconfinement squares of 40x40 µm.
Neuronal and glial
cell mechanics
We develop an interdisciplinary approach to investigate how cellular forces, local cell and tissue mechanical properties contribute to the modulation of neuronal and glial functions. By using cell stretcher, micropatterned substrates, complex compliant cell culture substrates and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we study the mechanical activation of brain cells (neurons, astrocytes and glial cells) and their interactions. We aim to understand how neurons and glial cells respond to external forces and mechanical cues of their microenvironment. Our long-term goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to participate to the development of effective therapeutic solutions.
J. Lantoine et al. ACS Chemical Neuroscience 12, 3885-3897 (2021)
J. Lantoine et al. Biomaterials 89, 14-24 (2016)
T. Grevesse et al. Scientific Reports 5, 1-10 (2015)
We develop biomaterial scaffolds with highly-controlled architectures and chemical functionalization for two- and three-dimensional cell culture, tissue regeneration, and biological assays. We aim to understand how cells and tissues actively interact with their surroundings to sense, store and exchange information by capturing key features of the biochemical and biophysical aspects of a cell’s niche. Our approach combines the principle of soft lithographic processes with photopolymerized polymers to engineer biomaterial niches as physiologically or pathologically-relevant models, while mimicking the physico-chemical properties of the cell’s niche.
M. Luciano et al. Nature Physics 17, 1382-1390 (2021)
J. Lantoine et al. Biomaterials 89, 14-24 (2016)
M. Riaz et al. Scientific Reports 6, 1-14 (2016)
