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Paper "Reconfigurable microenvironments uncover mechano-sensing timescales and direct cell polarity"
The new paper "Reconfigurable Microenvironments Uncover Mechano-Sensing Timescales and Direct Cell Polarity" by Syuan‑Ku Hsiao, Markus Mukenhirn, Carsten Werner, Alf Honigmann, and Elisha Krieg showcases the power of DyNAtrix, a synthetic DNA-crosslinked cell culture matrix designed to precisely control the mechanical microenvironment. By enabling independent tuning of stiffness and stress relaxation, DyNAtrix reveals distinct timescales of cellular mechanosensing that regulate polarity and morphogenesis. Leveraging dynamic DNA nanotechnology, the matrix’s viscoelasticity can be reprogrammed in real time—actively directing biological processes such as lumen formation and polarity inversion. This work highlights the emerging potential of mechanically reconfigurable materials in guiding cell fate and organization. The paper was published in Advanced Functional Materials. DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202513028
07.09.2025