Tissue growth requires a complex coordinated interplay between a large number of cells. Since tissue growth often happens in confined space, we show here that intercellular forces play a dominant role in shaping the final product.
The 3D MULTICELL GROWTH (How mechanical forces regulate tissue growth in defined 3D geometries) project has successfully developed a quantitative in vitro tissue growth assay. Integrated with bioengineering techniques, the team tested if mechanical forces were translated into cell behaviour at the microscopic level by quantifying tissue growth processes in millimetre-sized scaffold pores.
Further details: Cell growth under geometrical constraints