Bioactive Materials Laboratory
Mechanotransduction in engineered extracellular matrices
Our laboratory studies how interactions between cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) regulate many basic cell functions. In particular, our focus is to understand how ECM composition, mechanics and degradability jointly impact cell spreading, proliferation and migration in the context of angiogenesis and stem cell differentiation.
Human umbilical vein endothelial cells invading into a 3D synthetic hydrogel matrix
To address such questions, we develop novel synthetic hydrogels with independently controllable mechanical, degradable, and adhesive properties. Taking a highly interdisciplinary approach, our research combines mechanistic cell biology studies with novel materials chemistry and platform engineering.