HKU Mechanical Engineering Scientists hail breakthrough in cell and tissue mechanics, enhancing understanding of organ formation and embryogenesis

Cells and tissue are known to undergo significant irreversible deformations during processes such as tissue formation and embryo development. A research team led by Professor Yuan LIN from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has made a major new breakthrough in showing how plastic strain develops in individual cells and then propagates within the tissue.

The study, titled “A Mechanism-Based Theory of Cellular and Tissue Plasticity,” has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

“By revealing the biophysical mechanisms behind the development of cellular and tissue plasticity at different scales, the study is a big step in advancing our understanding of processes such as organ formation and embryogenesis,” said Professor Lin. The theoretical framework developed could also provide critical insights for designing innovative strategies in regenerative medicine

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