Cells as an Intelligent Material: An integrated multiscale modeling approach based on coupled responses to chemical, electrical, and mechanical stimuli

智力价值这个项目的研究目标是为创建先进的细胞模拟网络提供一种彻底的方法学。自然界经常展示复杂工程问题的优雅解决方案，其中许多是从细胞水平上展示的现象衍生出来的。通过在实验室中创建细胞模拟网络，有可能重现其中一些所需的行为，并提供有关单个细胞网络如何显示集体行为的见解。这个多学科项目专注于将实验、计算和理论方法结合起来，以帮助开发一个多尺度模型来预测这些人工细胞网络的行为，重点是它们独特的转导能力和对各种刺激的反应。该方法将包括创建单个生物分子单元细胞，构建用于预测这些单元细胞网络行为的多尺度模型，通过实验结果验证该模型，并将验证后的模型应用于更先进的系统，展示将细胞模拟作为智能材料的潜力。布罗德影响这一多学科研究的好处包括通过理论、计算和实验努力更深入地了解细胞网络。这些发现将提供对细胞如何并行工作以实现集体目标的洞察，并通过展示如何利用细胞力学来解决复杂问题，说明生物启发方法在工程研究中的潜力。这些双重目标将有助于加强生物界和工程界之间的合作，并可能通过新的视角带来更多的科学发现。细胞表现出与许多传统智能材料相同的特征，适当定制的细胞模拟网络可能为微执行器和传感器等新设备的设计提供可能性。此外，通过强调仿生设计应用的高中和本科研讨会，将鼓励新一代具有生物意识的工程师。

Intellectual MeritThe research objective of this project is to provide a thorough methodology for the creation of advanced networks of cellular mimics. The natural world often exhibits elegant solutions to complex engineering problems, many of which are derived from phenomena exhibited at the cellular level. It is possible to recreate some of these desired behaviors and provide insight into how networks of individual cells can display collective behaviors by creating networks of cellular mimics in the laboratory. This multi-disciplinary project focuses on coupling experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches to aid in the development of a multiscale model for predicting the behavior of these artificial cellular networks, focusing on their unique transduction capabilities and responses to various stimuli. The approach will involve the creation of individual biomolecular unit cells, constructing a multiscale model for predicting the behavior of networks of these unit cells, validating the model through the experimental results, and applying the validated model towards more advanced systems demonstrating the potential in using cellular mimics as intelligent materials.Broader Impacts The benefits of this multi-disciplinary research include a more in-depth understanding of cellular networks through theoretical, computational, and experimental efforts. The findings will provide insight into how cells work in parallel to achieve collective goals, and illustrate the potential for biologically-inspired approaches in engineering research by demonstrating how cellular mechanics may be harnessed for tackling complex problems. These dual goals will aid in increasing collaboration between the biological and engineering worlds and may lead to further scientific discoveries through fresh perspectives. Cells demonstrate the same characteristics as many traditional intelligent materials, and properly tailored networks of cellular mimics may offer possibilities for the design of new devices such as microactuators and sensors. In addition, a new generation of biologically-minded engineers will be encouraged through high school and undergraduate seminars that highlight applications of biomimetic design.