Hang on Tight: Modulating the Tissue Microenvironment with Micro and Nanoscale Cues (INVITED SPEAKER)

Cells interact intimately with complex microdomains in their extracellular matrix (ECM) and maintain a delicate balance of mechanical forces. Tissue injury results in acute degradation of the ECM and disruption of cell-ECM contacts, manifesting in loss of cytoskeletal tension, leading to pathological cell transformation and the onset of disease. Micro and nanoscale constructs have been developed to provide cells with microdomains to form focal adhesion binding sites, which enable restoration of cytoskeletal tension. These synthetic anchors can activate signaling cascades to modulate downstream gene-level transcription, making this a unique materials-based approach for altering ell behavior. By incorporating micro and nanoscale features into biomaterials, one can influence biological processes such as matrix production, immune activation, and barrier function. The understanding of how small scale topographies can influence the tissue microenvironment allows us to design platforms for applications in therapeutic delivery and tissue regeneration. In this talk, I will discuss our recent work on the on the fabrication, functionalization and implementation of these features for therapeutic and regenerative medicine applications, as well as the mechanisms underlying these interactions.