Solid tissues consist of highly interconnected cells with mesoscale mechanical properties that enable specific functions. In homeostasis, these properties are maintained through mechanical homeostasis, a dynamic equilibrium between intercellular tension and extracellular matrix adhesion forces. In postmitotic tissues like the retina, ageing challenges this balance, as natural cell loss must be compensated by active tissue remodelling. Our goal is to understand how shifts in mechanical homeostasis and cellular density contribute to retinal senescence and age-related diseases.
In homeostasis, epithelia maintain a dynamic equilibrium with their extracellular matrix, where biochemical and mechanical cues are essential for defining tissue function. However, the mechanobiological roles of these cues in epithelia remain poorly understood.
Our goal is to investigate how the nature, density, and topology of the extracellular matrix shape these cues and, in turn, regulate epithelial mechanics and function.
Hydrogel substrates are
commonly used to match ECM stiffness in 2D and 3D models. Nevertheless, when
based on synthetic polymers, hydrogels still need to mimic the ability of the extracellular matrix to be altered by cells for tissue remodelling needs.
Our goal is to optimise hydrogel systems to use the material “weakness” to challenge tissue plasticity, thus deciphering the biology at the cell-material interface.
Current knowledge of retinal development, function, and disease largely comes from animal models like mice, zebrafish, and chicks. However, these models do not fully capture the unique characteristics of the human retina or accurately model human retinal diseases. While primary human retinal tissue is an alternative, its limited availability and lack of long-term culture methods pose challenges. Stem cell-based systems offer a powerful solution. By integrating engineered microenvironments with stem cell-derived models, our goal is to develop optimized platforms to explore fundamental mechanobiological questions, retinal plasticity, and disease mechanisms in human-relevant systems.