The hierarchical design of the toe pad surface in geckos and its reversible adhesiveness have inspired material scientists for many years. Micro- and nano-patterned surfaces with impressive adhesive performance have been developed to mimic gecko's properties. While the adhesive performance achieved in some examples has surpassed living counterparts, the durability of the fabricated surfaces is limited and the capability to self-renew and restore function-inherent to biological systems-is unimaginable.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new study reports that the extracellular matrix component laminin-111 shields the nucleus from actin-mediated forces by engaging the keratin cytoskeleton. Thus, matrix composition represents a means by which tissues can protect cell nuclei from mechanical damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin Cell Biol
December 2023
We suggest that the human body can be viewed as of textile nature whose fabric consists of interconnected fiber systems. These fiber systems form highly dynamic scaffolds, which respond to environmental changes at different temporal and spatial scales. This is especially relevant at sites where epithelia border on connective tissue regions that are exposed to dynamic microenvironments.
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