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The Micro Structures and Micro Environments Research Group |
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MSME Research Group |
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The Hematon Project |
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About Us |
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Many -if not most- cells live in highly organised structures with many other cells. Examples include animal and plant embryos, tissues, and organs, and microbial biofilms. The cells within these structures are restricted to specific locations and often orientations, have specific tasks, and their growth, physiological state and differentiation is regulated. To be able to live in such an organised state the cells have developed extensive communication systems which we are only beginning to understand.
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Web Pages Designed By: Rama Yusvana |
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The Microstructures and Microenvironments Research Group has a strong interest in investigating the relation between aggregate / tissue architecture and cell behavior and properties. The approach taken typically involves obtaining a suspension of well-defined cells and then assembling them into cell aggregates / tissue-like materials with defined architectures using micromanipulation techniques. Combining this approach with other techniques by which chemical factors (e.g. nutrients, growth factors, composition of the extracellular matrix, surface properties) or physical factors (e.g. mechanical forces, electric fields) in the immediate surroundings of the cells are controlled allows us to address problems which could not be investigated before.
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