Mechanics of Entropic Forces in Biological Adhesion

Catalog description

Course will cover fundamental concepts of entropic force and its significance in mechanical systems involving "soft matter". A prominent example is cell adhesion which plays a central role in cell migration, spreading, differentiation and growth. For such problems, the importance of mechanics and mechanical forces has been widely recognized and are currently under intensive research. This course is also aimed to stimulate live discussions on potential research topics and opportunities at the interface between solid mechanics and biological mechanics, with emphasis on cell-substrate, cell-cell and cell-particle interaction. Fundamental concepts to be discussed include Brownian motion, fluctuation, diffusion, dissipation, ligand-receptor bonds, single molecule mechanics, stochastic dynamics of binding/rebinding, elasticity, stress fibers, cytoskeleton, focal adhesion and endocytosis.