Mechanobiology—the study of the effects of mechanical environments on the biological processes of cells—has evolved from traditional biomechanics via the incorporation of strong elements of molecular and cell biology. Currently, a broad range of organ systems are being studied by surgeons, physicians, basic scientists, and engineers. These mechanobiologists aim to create new therapies and further biological understanding by quantifying the mechanical environment of cells and the molecular mechanisms of mechanically induced pathological conditions.
To achieve these goals, investigators must be familiar with both the basic concepts of mechanics and the modern tools of cellular/molecular biology. Unfortunately, current literature contains numerous studies that misuse standard mechanical estimations and terminology, or fail to implement appropriate molecular analyses. Therefore, the Mechanobiology Handbook not only presents cutting-edge research findings across various fields and organ systems, but also provides the elementary chapters on mechanics and molecular analysis techniques to encourage cross-field understanding and appropriate planning.
Aided by the continuous advancement of research tools in both mechanics and biology, more sophisticated experiments and analyses are possible—thus fueling the growth of the field of mechanobiology. Considering the complexity of the mechanics and the biology of the human body, most of the world of biomechanics remains to be studied. Since the field is still developing, the Mechanobiology Handbook does not force one unified theory, but brings out many different viewpoints and approaches to stimulate further research questions.
Basic Science Tools for Mechanobiology Research
An Introductory Guide to Solid Mechanics, Sarah C. Baxter
Fluid Mechanics, Tiffany Camp and Richard Figliola
Molecular Analysis in Mechanobiology, Ken Webb and Jeoung Soo Lee
Literature Review of Mechanobiology: Research Findings and Theories:
Cardiovascular Systems
Effects of Endovascular Intervention on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Function, Brad Winn, Bethany Acampora, Jiro Nagatomi, and Martine LaBerge
Effects of Pressure on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, Sheila Nagatomi and Rena Bizios
Mechanobiology of Heart Valves, Joshua D. Hutcheson, Michael P. Nilo, and W. David Merryman
Mechanobiology of Cardiac Fibroblasts, Peter A. Galie and Jan P. Stegemann
Mechanobiological Evidence for the Control of Neutrophil Activity by Fluid Shear Stress, Hainsworth Y. Shin, Xiaoyan Zhang, Aya Makino, and Geert W. Schmid-Schönbein
Musculoskeletal Systems
Skeletal Mechanobiology, Alesha B. Castillo and Christopher R. Jacobs
Mechanical Control of Bone Remodeling, Natasha Case and Janet Rubin
Cartilage Mechanobiology, Hai Yao, Yongren Wu, and Xin L. Lu
Cell Mechanobiology: The Forces Applied to Cells and Generated by Cells, Bin Li, Jeen-Shang Lin, and James H.-C. Wang
Other Organ Systems
Pulmonary Vascular Mechanobiology, Diana M. Tabima and Naomi C. Chesler
Lung echanobiology, Daniel J. Tschumperlin, Francis Boudreault, and Fei Liu
Mechanical Signaling in the Urinary Bladder Aruna Ramachandran, Ramaswamy Krishnan, and Rosalyn M. Adam
Mechanobiology of Bladder Urothelial Cells, Shawn Olsen, Kevin Champaigne, and Jiro Nagatomi
The Mechanobiology of Aqueous Humor Transport across Schlemm’s Canal Endothelium, Darryl R. Overby
Mechanobiology in Health and Disease in the Central Nervous System, Theresa A. Ulrich and Sanjay Kumar
Frontiers of Mechanobiology
Mechanostimulation in Bone and Tendon Tissue Engineering, Samuel VanGordon, Warren Yates, and Vassilios I. Sikavitsas
Mechanobiology in the Stem Cell Niche: Integrating Physical and Chemical Regulation of Differentiation, Wilda Helen and Adam J. Engler
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Mechanobiology, Wen Li Kelly Chen and Craig A. Simmons
The Use of Microfluidic Technology in Mechanobiology Research, Brittany Ho McGowan, Sachin Jambovane, Jong Wook Hong, and Jiro Nagatomi
Design of Abdominal Wall Hernioplasty Meshes Guided by Mechanobiology
and the Wound Healing Response, Shawn J. Peniston, Karen J. Burg, and Shalaby W. Shalaby
Index
Biography
Jiro Nagatomi is an assistant professor of bioengineering and the director of Cell Mechanics and Mechanobiology Laboratory at Clemson University, South Carolina. His research group is interested in ion channels involved in cellular mechanotransduction of hydrostatic pressure and the development of micro-devices for research in the field of mechanobiology.
