Emerging Tools, Concepts, and Applications in Multi-Scale Mechanobiology

Altered biomechanical properties such as tissue stiffness and viscoelasticity play critical roles in the progression of a wide range of diseases, including various cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Microenvironment stiffening, for example, is a well-known feature of many types of tumors, and abnormal viscoelastic behavior of cardiovascular tissues (blood vessels, heart valves and myocardial wall) is a common underlying factor in many cardiovascular diseases as well as aging. The field is now beginning to understand and appreciate the importance of such biophysical phenomena, but in many cases, there remains a gap between organ-level properties/function and the complex cellular and molecular changes that drive them (and vice versa). With the advent of new technology such as single-cell multi-omics, researchers are able to investigate mechanobiological processes more holistically across multiple scales. Such bioinformatics-based tools are among many examples of emerging approaches in the field of mechanobiology that hold promise for: (i) identifying novel signaling factors and druggable targets, (ii) advancing our fundamental understanding of pathogenic mechanisms (e.g., unraveling structure-function relationships across multiple scales), and (iii) providing the groundwork for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

This Research Topic aims to highlight new and exciting research in mechanical regulation at multi-scale levels and applying multi-omics approaches. The overarching goal of this Research Topic is to feature exciting new ideas, tools, and findings that help bridge the gap between organ-level biomechanical properties/function and the cellular and molecular processes associated with them. We aim to cover wide-ranging mechanobiology topics across biomaterials, cell/molecular biology, physiology and engineering, but with a particular focus on new interdisciplinary and multi-scale approaches that provide comprehensive perspectives on pathogenic mechanisms, and clinical translation and application of mechanobiological concepts in various cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

The aim of the current Research Topic is to feature promising and impactful research in mechanobiology, biomechanics, and related fields. Article types include mini and systemic reviews, original research, methods, and perspectives. Submissions of particular interest include studies that (i) employ new tools (e.g., multi-omics) to shed light on the role of biomechanical factors in disease, (ii) unravel fundamental pathogenic mechanisms across multiple scales, and (iii) offer potential for the development of new therapeutic strategies rooted in mechanobiological principles. Areas to be broadly covered in this Research Topic include, but are not limited to:

• Cell/nuclear mechanobiology

• Tissue biomechanics

• Engineered biomaterials / Matrix biology

• Bioinformatics-based approaches in mechanobiology

• Tumor microenvironment

• Cardiovascular physiology and pathology

• Stem cells and regenerative medicine

• Mechanobiology-based therapies

• Multi-scale modeling