How do immune cells sense their physical environment to fight disease? Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Materials Science and Engineering have developed tunable artificial cells that mimic pathogens to investigate this process.
They discovered that stiffer artificial cells prompt macrophages—key immune cells—to become more inflammatory. This occurs through the formation of "molecular clutches" that transmit physical forces into the cell. These mechanical signals are then converted into biochemical instructions, programming the macrophage's state.
This study highlights the power of artificial cells as a new tool for studying cell communication and opens potential avenues for innovative immunotherapies.
Read more in Nature Communications:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63581-1
#Biomaterials #Artificial Cells #Mechanobiology
