Mechanobiology and Biomaterials

The goal here is to understand how physical and mechanical properties such as strain, stress and loading influence naturally occurring biological systems and how the introduction of synthetic material or replacement tissue interacts with the host environment. This is of particular relevance in understanding the modes of failure for normal organs and tissues in the body and in developing strategies for treating diseases that disrupt their integrity. Specific areas of emphasis include:

• Determining the fundamental principles by which cells and matrix molecules respond to physical loading and how mechanical factors influence tissue development, injury, repair, and remodeling.
• Developing biocompatible and biological materials as part of functional implant systems for tissue replacement, including the use of stem cells and gene therapy.
• Characterizing the mechanical properties of tissues and tissue replacements as a function of chemical composition and architecture.
• Designing novel bioreactors for in vitro maturation of biomimetic tissues to investigate parameters that influence the performance of engineered materials, such as cell type, initial scaffold chemistry and culture conditions.

Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Courses at UCSF

Additional Courses Offered at UCB

Faculty with research programs related to Mechanobiology and Biomaterials

© Program in Bioengineering, University of California
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