# Beyond static models: Mechanically dynamic matrices reveal new insights into cancer and fibrosis progression
**Source**: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/342420/
**Parent**: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/303613.html
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# Beyond static models: Mechanically dynamic matrices reveal new insights into cancer and fibrosis progression
[Walker, M.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/50025.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5119-9118](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5119-9118), [Gourdon, D.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/55945.html) and [Cantini, M.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30437.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0326-1508](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0326-1508)
(2025)
Beyond static models: Mechanically dynamic matrices reveal new insights into cancer and fibrosis progression.
*[Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Current_Opinion_in_Biomedical_Engineering.html)*, 33,
100570.
(doi: [10.1016/j.cobme.2024.100570](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobme.2024.100570))
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| | [Text](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/342420/2/342420.pdf) 342420.pdf - Published Version Available under License [Creative Commons Attribution](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 1MB |
## Abstract
The dynamic mechanical nature of extracellular matrices (ECMs) is crucial for the mechanosensitive regulation of cell fate. This is evident in pathological conditions such as cancer and fibrosis, which are characterised by highly fibrotic tissue developing over time. This fibrotic progression not only alters tissue mechanics, but also coincides with the reprogramming of resident cells, promoting their differentiation into aberrant phenotypes and increasing drug resistance. Hydrogels, with their tuneable mechanical and biochemical properties, emerge as powerful ECM mimetics to model and study these abnormal, mechanically-driven cell differentiation phenomena. In this review, after establishing how conventional, mechanically static hydrogels contribute to our understanding of the role of altered mechanosensing in cell differentiation during cancer and fibrosis, we explore the research opportunities given by advanced dynamic matrices. Models employing hydrogels that are fast relaxing, plastic or even with temporally switchable mechanics reveal the otherwise hidden role of time-dependent phenomena during disease development.
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| Item Type: | Articles |
| Additional Information: | M.C. acknowledges funding from the Medical Research Council (MR/S005412/1), the Royal Society (RGS/R1/231400) and the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (RIG013300). D.G. acknowledges the Royal Society under the Wolfson award. RSWF/FT/191020. |
| Keywords: | Extracellular matrix, cancer, fibrosis, mechanosensing, cell differentiation. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | [Walker, Dr Matthew](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/50025.html) and [Cantini, Dr Marco](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30437.html) and [Gourdon, Professor Delphine](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/55945.html) |
| Authors: | [Walker, M.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/50025.html), [Gourdon, D.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/55945.html), and [Cantini, M.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30437.html) |
| College/School: | [College of Science and Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30000000/) > [School of Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30300000/) > [Biomedical Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30303000/) |
| Journal Name: | [Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Current_Opinion_in_Biomedical_Engineering.html) |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 2468-4511 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2468-4511 |
| Published Online: | 21 December 2024 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2024 The Author(s) |
| First Published: | First published in Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering 33:100570 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a creative commons licence |
University Staff: [Request a correction](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/cgi/request_correction?eprintid=342420) | Enlighten Editors: [Update this record](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&eprintid=342420)
Funder and Project Information
[Funder and Project Information](#)
[Funder and Project Information](#)
Project Code
Award No
Project Name
Principal Investigator
Funder's Name
Funder Ref
Lead Dept
[303613](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/303613.html)
Engineered microenvironments to harvest stem cell response to viscosity for cartilage repair
Marco Cantini
[Medical Research Council (MRC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/Medical_Research_Council_=28MRC=29.html)
MR/S005412/1
ENG - Biomedical Engineering
[320080](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/320080.html)
Harnessing viscoelasticity for regenerative medicine
Marco Cantini
[The Royal Society (ROYSOC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/The_Royal_Society_=28ROYSOC=29.html)
RGS/R1/231400
ENG - Biomedical Engineering
[324055](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/324055.html)
Viscoelastic regulation of growth factor activity
Marco Cantini
[The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (CARNEGTR)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/The_Carnegie_Trust_for_the_Universities_of_Scotland_=28CARNEGTR=29.html)
RIG013300
ENG - Biomedical Engineering
[310302](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/310302.html)
Manipulating proteins to engineer 3D platforms for cancer research
Delphine Gourdon
[The Royal Society (ROYSOC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/The_Royal_Society_=28ROYSOC=29.html)
RSWF/FT/191020
ENG - Biomedical Engineering
Deposit and Record Details
[Deposit and Record Details](#)
[Deposit and Record Details](#)
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| ID Code: | 342420 |
| Depositing User: | [Dr Mary Donaldson](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/profile/9223) |
| Datestamp: | 27 Nov 2024 14:16 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Jan 2025 15:02 |
| Date of acceptance: | 26 November 2024 |
| Date of first online publication: | 21 December 2024 |
| Date Deposited: | 27 November 2024 |
| Data Availability Statement: | Yes no data confirmed |
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