The way in which cells coordinate their behaviours during various biological processes,
including morphogenesis, cancer progression and tissue remodelling, largely depends on the …

The minimal structural unit that defines living organisms is a single cell. By proliferating and
mechanically interacting with each other, cells can build complex organization such as …

Directed cell migration is a complex process that involves front–rear polarization, characterized
by cell adhesion and cytoskeleton-based protrusion, retraction, and contraction of either …

Using an original microfabrication-based technique, we experimentally study situations in
which a virgin surface is presented to a confluent epithelium with no damage made to the cells…

We measure dynamic traction forces exerted by epithelial cells on a substrate. The force
sensor is a high-density array of elastomeric microfabricated pillars that support the cells. …

Epithelial tissues (epithelia) remove excess cells through extrusion, preventing the
accumulation of unnecessary or pathological cells. The extrusion process can be triggered by …

Cell migration plays a major role in many fundamental biological processes, such as
morphogenesis, tumor metastasis, and wound healing. As they anchor and pull on their …

The role of geometrical confinement on collective cell migration has been recognized but has
not been elucidated yet. Here, we show that the geometrical properties of the environment …

Increasing evidence suggests that mechanical cues inherent to the extracellular matrix may
be as important as its chemical nature in regulating cell behavior. Here, the response of cells …

The traction forces developed by cells depend strongly on the substrate rigidity. In this letter,
we characterize quantitatively this effect on MDCK epithelial cells by using a microfabricated …