Mechanobiology investigates how cells sense and respond to mechanical cues from their surrounding environment and how these interactions regulate cellular function, tissue organization, and disease progression. This session will explore how nanotechnology and advanced nanoscale approaches are advancing our understanding of the interplay between cellular mechanics, the extracellular microenvironment, and external mechanical forces.
A range of innovative experimental approaches will be presented, spanning engineered three-dimensional microenvironments, advanced optical techniques, and nanoscale mechanical measurements. These technologies provide new opportunities to characterize the mechanical properties of cells and tissues and to investigate how mechanical cues influence cell–matrix interactions and cellular behavior.
Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of mechanics in cancer, including the interaction between tumor cells and the immune microenvironment and the mechanical heterogeneity associated with different cellular phenotypes and levels of aggressiveness. Together, these studies highlight the importance of considering both the mechanical properties of cells and their physical environment when investigating disease mechanisms.
By bringing together complementary approaches across nanotechnology, bioengineering, biophysics, and cancer biology, the session will provide a multidisciplinary perspective on emerging concepts and technologies in mechanobiology and their potential to advance our understanding of health and disease.