It is well understood that cells respond to a range of signals in vivo. The development of model surfaces and materials has enabled a better understanding of how cells interact with their surroundings. New materials with control over more properties will continue to be important in answering biological questions. In particular, there is interest in developing dynamic materials - materials that can elicit synergistic responses and materials with spatiotemporal control over mechanical properties (beyond stiffness) are important steps to better mimic and understand biological tissues and processes.
The aim of this Research Topic is to cover promising recent material developments tailored towards use to improve our understanding and control of cell biology. Accurate control over material properties over time, in either 2 or 3 dimensions, is challenging. Characterization of such materials with appropriate resolution in material properties, time and space is also challenging. New materials are constantly developed from both synthetic and natural materials.
In this collection, we welcome submissions describing new materials for understanding or controlling biology and new ways to characterize such materials. Of particular interest is the application of such materials to reveal new biological information. The focus of this Research Topic is therefore on the following topics:
- Dynamic and stimuli-responsive materials for biology
- Materials that combine control over several biological cues (e.g. mechanical properties and delivery of biochemical signals)
- Materials that offer control over control over mechanical properties beyond stiffness
- The use of such novel materials to study biological processes, in particular mechanotransduction.
- New ways to characterize such novel materials
- New methods to measure cell interactions with/responses to materials.
Note: For some of his research projects, Topic Editor K.K. has received financial support from Ushio Inc.
It is well understood that cells respond to a range of signals in vivo. The development of model surfaces and materials has enabled a better understanding of how cells interact with their surroundings. New materials with control over more properties will continue to be important in answering biological questions. In particular, there is interest in developing dynamic materials - materials that can elicit synergistic responses and materials with spatiotemporal control over mechanical properties (beyond stiffness) are important steps to better mimic and understand biological tissues and processes.
The aim of this Research Topic is to cover promising recent material developments tailored towards use to improve our understanding and control of cell biology. Accurate control over material properties over time, in either 2 or 3 dimensions, is challenging. Characterization of such materials with appropriate resolution in material properties, time and space is also challenging. New materials are constantly developed from both synthetic and natural materials.
In this collection, we welcome submissions describing new materials for understanding or controlling biology and new ways to characterize such materials. Of particular interest is the application of such materials to reveal new biological information. The focus of this Research Topic is therefore on the following topics:
- Dynamic and stimuli-responsive materials for biology
- Materials that combine control over several biological cues (e.g. mechanical properties and delivery of biochemical signals)
- Materials that offer control over control over mechanical properties beyond stiffness
- The use of such novel materials to study biological processes, in particular mechanotransduction.
- New ways to characterize such novel materials
- New methods to measure cell interactions with/responses to materials.
Note: For some of his research projects, Topic Editor K.K. has received financial support from Ushio Inc.