Towards in situ mechanosensing in artificial anisotropic extracellular matrices

In living tissues, cells are supported by a 3D extracellular matrix (ECM), the most optimized structure in nature for triggering and supporting cell functions (i.e. adhesion, differentiation, migration, polarization, etc.). Cells dynamically interact and remodel the ECM architecture. Growing or moving cells respond to and exert forces onto their environment and therefore the ECM mechanical properties are essential for tissue development. Understanding cell-matrix interactions in 3D is therefore essential for the development of regenerative therapies and screening platforms. The main goal of this project is to develop biomaterials able to self-assemble in aqueous environments into 3D anisotropic structures and study their ability to support neuronal growth and activity. We will explore the ability of nanocrystals and fibers to self-assemble into liquid crystalline structures in order to construct anisotropic 3D cellular matrices as a support for neuronal growth since molecular crowding found in biological tissue is also characterized by liquid-crystal forming rod-shaped nanomaterials. Using optical and electrophysiology methods, we will probe the matrix properties and cellular responses (i.e., cell morphology, mechanical and electrical properties) to investigate mechanosensing mechanisms in 3D matrices.