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SUMMARY:Engineered biomaterials for regeneration and mechanobiology  - Pr
 ofessor Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez\, University of Glasgow
DTSTART:20251127T160000Z
DTEND:20251127T170000Z
UID:TALK240136@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:46601
DESCRIPTION:The physical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and 
 the use of growth factors are powerful tools to control cell behaviour\, i
 ncluding fundamental processes such as cell migration and (stem) cell diff
 erentiation. Integrins are mechanotransductors that feel and respond towar
 ds the mechanical properties of the ECM. We have developed material system
 s that allow simultaneous stimulation of integrins and growth factors rece
 ptors. We have engineered polymers and 3D hydrogels that unfold and assemb
 le proteins to allow exposure of the integrin and growth factor binding re
 gions. For example\, we show the use of BMP-2 in synergy with a5b1 integri
 ns to promote osteogenesis and regeneration of critical-sized defects. Fur
 ther\, we have developed interfaces that bind latent proteins that induce 
 integrin-mediated mechanical activation of growth factors. We will demonst
 rate the use of TGF-b1 that is released and activated by using engineered 
 surfaces that organise fibrinectin to promote binding of LTBP1 and enable 
 integrin B1 to pull on active TGFB1.\nIn the second part of the talk\, we 
 will use surfaces of controlled viscosity in our pathway to engineer and u
 nderstand the viscoelastic properties of the ECM. We use supported lipid b
 ilayers that are functionalised with either RGD (integrin binding) or HAVD
 I (cadherin binding) to demonstrate the molecular clutch is engaged on sur
 faces of high enough viscosity and\, importantly\, that it is weaken upon 
 N-cadherin binding\, controlled by the competition between vinculin and a-
 catenin for actin filaments. We then introduced substrates of controlled e
 lasticity and viscosity\, first in 2D using polyacrylamide hydrogels that 
 were further patterned using fibronetcin and then in 3D using PEG-hydrogel
 s functionalised with fibronectin. We will discuss the unexpected interpla
 y between viscoelasticity\, cell adhesion and molecular clutch engagement.
  We introduce Brillouin microscopy as a way to follow the evolution of the
  viscoelastic properties of cells and the engineered hydrogels in 3D in a 
 non-invasive way and in real time.\n\nBio:\nManuel Salmeron-Sanchez is Pro
 fessor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Glasgow and ICREA Re
 search Professor at Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC). He did 
 a PhD in Valencia and postdoctoral training in Prague (Institute for Macro
 molecular Chemistry) and KU Leuven. He was visiting professor in Georgia T
 ech (2010) and Kyushu University (2018\, 2020). He was Full Professor of A
 pplied Physics in Valencia before relocating to Glasgow in 2013. Manuel de
 velops advanced biomaterials for cell engineering and mechanobiology. His 
 research includes materials that trigger the organisation of extracellular
  matrix proteins (Science Advances 2016)\; the use viscosity to control ce
 ll behaviour (PNAS 2018 & Nature Communications 2024) and interfaces that 
 trigger the mechanical activation of growth factors (Advanced Materials 20
 24). Manuel holds an ERC Advanced Grant to develop the next generation of 
 viscoelastic materials in stem cell engineering. He is a Fellow of the Roy
 al Society of Edinburgh\, Scotland’s National Academy for Arts and Scien
 ces.
LOCATION:JDB Seminar Room\, CUED
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