Research

Many biological processes such a cell migration or tissue folding in embryogenesis result from the synchronization of force generator molecular motors and highly regulated spatio-temporal cell-cell communication. These collective phenomena are out-of-equilibrium by nature as cells convert chemical energy into mechanical forces. We use biomimetic bottom-up approaches with purified cytoskeletal proteins and in vitro top-down approaches with eukaryotic cells to answer how mechanical forces exerted by molecular motors control the self-organization, the dynamics and the folding of soft active materials. Our lab is exploring a variety of projects at the interface of biophysics, soft condensed matter and bio-material science.