Red blood cells are amazingly deformable structures able to recover their initial shape even
after large deformations as when passing through tight blood capillaries. The reason for this …

Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, are seen to flicker under optical microscopy, a phenomenon
initially described as thermal fluctuations of the cell membrane. But recent studies have …

The response of cells to forces is essential for tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis. This
response has been extensively investigated in interphase cells, but it remains unclear how …

Living cells are active mechanical systems that are able to generate forces. Their structure
and shape are primarily determined by biopolymer filaments and molecular motors that form …

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant cells of the tumor stroma. Their
capacity to contract the matrix and induce invasion of cancer cells has been well …

In somatic cells, the position of the cell centroid is dictated by the centrosome. The centrosome
is instrumental in nucleus positioning, the two structures being physically connected. …

The life and death of an organism rely on correct cell division, which occurs through the
process of mitosis. Although the biochemical signalling and morphogenetic processes during …

Control over neuronal growth is a fundamental objective in neuroscience, cell biology,
developmental biology, biophysics, and biomedicine and is particularly important for the formation …

Optical tweezers are tools made of light that enable contactless pushing, trapping, and
manipulation of objects, ranging from atoms to space light sails. Since the pioneering work by …

Recent results indicate that, in addition to chemical cues, mechanical stimuli may also impact
neuronal growth. For instance, unlike most other cell types, neurons prefer soft substrates. …