Mechanics of biological networks: from the cell cytoskeleton to connective tissue
From the cell cytoskeleton to connective tissues, fibrous networks are ubiquitous in metazoan life as the key promoters of mechanical strength, support and integrity. In recent decades, the application of physics to biological systems has made substantial strides in elucidating the striking mechanic...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Soft matter 2014-01, Vol.1 (12), p.1864-1884 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | From the cell cytoskeleton to connective tissues, fibrous networks are ubiquitous in metazoan life as the key promoters of mechanical strength, support and integrity. In recent decades, the application of physics to biological systems has made substantial strides in elucidating the striking mechanical phenomena observed in such networks, explaining strain stiffening, power law rheology and cytoskeletal fluidisation - all key to the biological function of individual cells and tissues. In this review we focus on the current progress in the field, with a primer into the basic physics of individual filaments and the networks they form. This is followed by a discussion of biological networks in the context of a broad spread of recent
in vitro
and
in vivo
experiments.
From the cell cytoskeleton to connective tissues, fibrous networks are ubiquitous in metazoan life as the key promoters of mechanical strength, support and integrity. |
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ISSN: | 1744-683X 1744-6848 |
DOI: | 10.1039/c3sm52769g |