Publications by authors named "Johannes Flommersfeld"
Article Synopsis
- Eukaryotic cells can change shape and move through tight spaces, but how this relates to their nuclei is still not well understood.
- This study focuses on mesenchymal cancer cell nuclei as they travel through narrow hydrogel channels, revealing that migration speed and frequency peak when channel widths are similar to the nuclear diameter.
- The researchers discovered that as nuclei migrate through these channels, they deform and change shape, with both pulling and pushing forces from the cytoskeleton playing a role in their movement under confinement.
The migratory dynamics of cells can be influenced by the complex microenvironment through which they move. It remains unclear how the motility machinery of confined cells responds and adapts to their microenvironment. Here, we propose a biophysical mechanism for a geometry-dependent coupling between cellular protrusions and the nucleus that leads to directed migration.
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- Researchers are exploring ways to enhance motor proteins for use in artificial devices, inspired by natural muscle structures like sarcomeres, but faced challenges in accurately arranging these proteins at a tiny scale.
- The new method focuses on creating a simpler motor arrangement using a contractile mesh that can be applied to soft materials and activated by ATP, similar to a powered exoskeleton for robotic systems.
- The study includes a model for force production in these systems and showcases 3D printed modules capable of performing intricate tasks, like grasping and waving, when stimulated by light.