Physics of Living Systems: Bridging Scales in Mechanobiology
Mechanobiology — the study of how physical forces and mechanical properties influence biological processes — has rapidly become a central theme in understanding living systems. From molecular conformational changes to tissue-level morphogenesis, physical principles govern the structure, dynamics, and function of life across scales.
This special issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research exploring how mechanical forces, material properties, and physical interactions shape biological behavior. We invite contributions that advance the physical understanding of biological systems and demonstrate how applied physics can provide new insights, measurement tools, and modeling frameworks for living matter.
Topics covered include, but are not limited to:
- Mechanobiology of living systems (animals, plants, microorganisms)
- Molecular and cellular mechanotransduction
- Biomechanics of cells, tissues, and organs
- Multiscale modeling of biological systems
- Soft and active matter in biological contexts
- Quantitative imaging and measurement techniques for mechanobiology
- Bioinspired materials and mechanosensitive systems
- Computational and experimental studies of development, regeneration, and disease
- Translational mechanobiology — physical insights into disease, repair, and biomedical innovation
Guest Editors
Atef Asnacios (Université Paris Cité)
Katherine Yanhang Zhang (Boston University)
Jean-Baptiste Manneville (Université Paris Cité)
Rachele Allena (University of Nice)