Mechanical modulation of particle-cell interactions

机械力在许多生物过程中起着关键作用，但颗粒的机械特性如何调节颗粒-细胞相互作用仍然是难以捉摸的。该项目旨在为工程纳米/微米材料开发新的设计原理，这些材料具有可调的机械性能，以改善细胞活化和扩增，并提高对颗粒刚度在调节受体介导的颗粒-细胞相互作用中的作用的认识。预期的成果和益处包括对颗粒机械性能对细胞功能的影响的新的基本理解，对T细胞活化和扩增的新见解，以及用于细胞制造中各种应用的刚度可调的新型材料。

Mechanical forces play critical roles in many biological processes, but how particle mechanical properties modulate particle-cell interactions remains elusive. This project aims to develop new design principles for engineering nano/micromaterials with tunable mechanical properties for improved cell activation and expansion, and to advance knowledge of the role of particle stiffness in modulating receptor-mediated particle-cell interactions. Expected outcomes and benefits include new fundamental understanding of the effect of particle mechanical properties on cell function, new insights into T cell activation and expansion, and new classes of stiffness-tunable fit-for-purpose materials for various applications in cell manufacturing.