Mechanobiology

Mechanobiology is an emerging field of science at the interface of biology, engineering, chemistry and physics. It focuses on how physical forces and changes in the mechanical properties of cells and tissues contribute to development, cell differentiation, physiology, and disease. Mechanical forces are experienced and may be interpreted to give biological responses in cells. The movement of joints, compressive loads on the cartilage and bone during exercise, and shear pressure on the blood vessel during blood circulation are all examples of mechanical forces in human tissues.[1] A major challenge in the field is understanding mechanotransduction—the molecular mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to mechanical signals. While medicine has typically looked for the genetic and biochemical basis of disease, advances in mechanobiology suggest that changes in cell mechanics, extracellular matrix structure, or mechanotransduction may contribute to the development of many diseases, including atherosclerosis, fibrosis, asthma, osteoporosis, heart failure, and cancer. There is also a strong mechanical basis for many generalized medical disabilities, such as lower back pain, foot and postural injury, deformity, and irritable bowel syndrome.[2]

  1. ^ Wang, J. H.-C.; Thampatty, B. P. (March 2006). "An introductory review of cell mechanobiology". Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology. 5 (1): 1–16. doi:10.1007/s10237-005-0012-z. ISSN 1617-7959. PMID 16489478. S2CID 5017641.
  2. ^ Smit, Theodoor H. (2020). "Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: The mechanobiology of differential growth". JOR Spine. 3 (4): e1115. doi:10.1002/jsp2.1115. ISSN 2572-1143. PMC 7770204. PMID 33392452. S2CID 225497216.