https://hdl.handle.net/2072/478902 2026-04-10T21:59:56Z 2026-04-10T21:59:56Z Pérez González, Carlos Alert Zenón, Ricard Blanch Mercader, Carles Gómez González, Manuel Kolodziej, Tomasz Bazellières, Elsa Casademunt i Viader, Jaume Trepat Guixer, Xavier https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228740 2026-04-10T02:30:30Z 2026-04-09T07:43:51Z

Active wetting of epithelial tissues. Pérez González, Carlos; Alert Zenón, Ricard; Blanch Mercader, Carles; Gómez González, Manuel; Kolodziej, Tomasz; Bazellières, Elsa; Casademunt i Viader, Jaume; Trepat Guixer, Xavier Development, regeneration and cancer involve changes in cell mechanical properties that lead to drastic transitions in tissue geometry and dimensionality. Given the fluid nature of living tissues, these transitions have been experimentally studied and theoretically modelled in terms of the physics of wetting phenomena, which describes how a fluid droplet spreads on a solid surface. However, physical forces, the effective determinants of tissue spreading, have never been measured in the context of tissue wetting. Here we perform a systematic study of tissue mechanics during epithelial wetting/dewetting. We induce a progressive expression of E‐cadherin in a confined monolayer of MDA‐MB‐231 cells and, simultaneously, we measure tissue forces using Traction Force Microscopy and Monolayer Stress Microscopy. The gradual formation of intercellular junctions produces a continuous increase in tissue contractility (pMLC), triggering a two‐fold increase in tissue forces that ends up in a spontaneous wetting‐dewetting transition. To understand how this transition arises from tissue active properties, we develop a wetting model based on active gels theory. Combining theory and experiments, we find that wetting‐dewetting transition results from a competition between contractility and traction forces, which introduces a new length scale, defining a critical size for tissue wetting. Strikingly, this implies that the critical tissue contractility driving the transition is dependent on tissue size, a phenomenon that has no counterpart in passive wetting/dewetting physics. Furthermore, we find that the critical tractions, which depend linearly on substrate ligand density, are the mechanical threshold for tissue spreading. Finally, we show that long‐wavelength morphological instabilities in our fluid interface, together with active fluctuations, explain tissue shape dynamics during dewetting. We conclude that tissue spreading can be understood as an active wetting transition of a viscous polar fluid.

2026-04-09T07:43:51Z Barbieri, Valentino González Colsa, Javier Matias, Diana Duro-Castano, Aroa Thapa, Anshu Ruiz-Perez, Lorena Albella, Pablo Volpe, Giorgio Battaglia, Giuseppe https://hdl.handle.net/2445/224385 2025-11-19T10:46:32Z 2025-11-14T11:31:03Z

Thermoplasmonic Polymersome Membranes by In Situ Synthesis Barbieri, Valentino; González Colsa, Javier; Matias, Diana; Duro-Castano, Aroa; Thapa, Anshu; Ruiz-Perez, Lorena; Albella, Pablo; Volpe, Giorgio; Battaglia, Giuseppe Thermoplasmonic nanoparticles, known for releasing heat upon illumination, find diverse applications in catalysis, optics, and biomedicine. Incorporating plasmonic metals within organic vesicle membranes can lead to the formation of nanoreactors capable of regulating temperature-sensitive microscopic processes. Yet, the controlled formation of stable hybrid vesicles displaying significant thermoplasmonic properties remains challenging. This work presents the in situ synthesis of highly efficient thermoplasmonic polymer vesicles, or hybrid polymersomes, by nucleating ∼2 nm gold nanoparticles within preformed polymersome membranes. This process preserves the vesicles’ morphology, stability, and overall functionality. Despite the small size of the embedded plasmonic nanoparticles, these hybrid polymersomes can efficiently convert laser light into a notable temperature increase on a larger scale through collective heating. We develop a theoretical framework that rationalizes the structure–property relations of hybrid polymersomes and accurately predicts their collective thermoplasmonic response. Finally, we demonstrate the biomedical potential of our polymersomes by employing their photothermal properties to induce the hyperthermal death of cancer cells in vitro, an effect amplified by their superior cellular uptake. We envision that these hybrid polymersomes will evolve into a versatile platform for precise control over nanoscale chemical and biological processes through plasmonic heating, unlocking numerous opportunities across various scientific and medical contexts.

2025-11-14T11:31:03Z Fuentes Llanos, Judith Guix Noguera, Maria Cenev, Zoran M. Bakenecker, Anna Ruiz González, Noelia Beaune, Grégory Timonen, Jaakko V. I. Sánchez Ordóñez, Samuel Magdanz, Veronika https://hdl.handle.net/2445/222741 2025-11-19T10:45:59Z 2025-08-01T11:09:28Z

Ferrofluid-based bioink for 3d printed skeletal muscle tissues with enhanced force and magnetic response Fuentes Llanos, Judith; Guix Noguera, Maria; Cenev, Zoran M.; Bakenecker, Anna; Ruiz González, Noelia; Beaune, Grégory; Timonen, Jaakko V. I.; Sánchez Ordóñez, Samuel; Magdanz, Veronika 3D printing has emerged as a transformative technology in several manufacturing processes, being of particular interest in biomedical research for allowing the creation of 3D structures that mimic native tissues. The process of tissue 3D printing entails the construction of functional, 3D tissue structures. In this article, the integration of ferrofluid consisting of iron oxide nanoparticles into muscle cell-laden bioink is presented to obtain a 3D printed magnetically responsive muscle tissue, i.e., the ferromuscle. Using extrusion-based methods, the seamless integration of biocompatible ferrofluids are achieved to cell-laden hydrogels. The resulting ferromuscle tissue exhibits improved tissue differentiation demonstrated by the increased force output upon electrical stimulation compared to muscle tissue prepared without ferrofluid. Moreover, the magnetic component originating from the iron oxide nanoparticles allows magnetic guidance, as well as good cytocompatibility and biodegradability in cell culture. These findings offer a new versatile fabrication approach to integrate magnetic components into living constructs, with potential applications as bioactuators and for future integration in smart, functional muscle implants.

2025-08-01T11:09:28Z Lozano Hernandez, Nekane Pérez Llanos, Germán Saez Comet, Carlos Valle, Luis J. del Puiggalí, Jordi Fontdecaba, Enric https://hdl.handle.net/2445/182894 2025-12-05T14:17:24Z 2022-02-01T17:19:15Z

Micro- and Nanotexturization of Liquid Silicone Rubber Surfaces by Injection Molding Using Hybrid Polymer Inlays Lozano Hernandez, Nekane; Pérez Llanos, Germán; Saez Comet, Carlos; Valle, Luis J. del; Puiggalí, Jordi; Fontdecaba, Enric Micro- and nanotexturization of surfaces can give to the parts different advanced functionalities, such as superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, or antibacterial capabilities. These advanced properties in combination with the biocompatibility of Liquid Silicone Rubber are an interesting approach for obtaining high-performance medical devices. The industrial production of surface textures in polymeric materials is through the replication technique, and the best option to attain a high production rate is injection molding. Moreover, its low viscosity during processing can provide an accurate replication capacity by the easy filling by capillarity of the microtextures. An innovative replicating technique for Liquid Silicone Rubber is presented by studying the replication of different shaped textures within a diameter range of between 2 and 50 mu m. The copying process consists in the overmolding of a textured polymeric inlay obtained by nanoimprint lithography. At the end of the process, a textured part is obtained, while the imprinted film remains in the mold. The injection molding parameters are optimized to increase the replication accuracy, and their effect on texture replicability is analyzed and discussed. Finally, it is shown that the textured surfaces improve their wettability behavior, which is a necessary and important characteristic in the development of biomedical devices.

2022-02-01T17:19:15Z