Translational mechanobiology. Co-PIs: Jorge Otero Diaz and Raimon Sunyer Borrell

Presentation

Our lab focuses on exploring the role of mechanical cues in regulating diseases such as fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and cancer, as well as cellular processes such as senescence. We aim to create novel treatments for these diseases by applying fundamental mechanobiology concepts. To this end, we combine biophysical techniques such as traction force microscopy, micropatterning, microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip and Atomic Force Microscopy with molecular biology, advanced optical microscopy, biomaterials, and computational modelling.

Our methodology uses basic and translational strategies in close collaboration with clinical research groups. We focus on two areas:

Area 1: Physiological Mechanobiology
Area 2: Physiopathology of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

KEYWORDS: Mechanobiology, Organ-on-a-chip, Extracellular matrix, Respiratory diseases, Traction Force Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy.

Research members

Jordi Otero Diaz
Assistant professor
jorge.otero@ub.edu

Raimon Sunyer Borrell
Assistant professor
rsunyer@ub.edu

Carolina Herranz Díez
Postdoctoral researcher
carolinaherranz@ub.edu

Ignasi Jorba Masdéu
Postdoctoral researcher
ijorba@ub.edu

Marina Moro López
Predoctoral researcher
marinamoro@ub.edu

Sergi Olive Palau
Predoctoral researcher
sergiolive8571@ub.edu

Nanthilde Malandain
Predoctoral researcher

Martina Serrat
Predoctoral researcher

Research lines

Area 1: Physiological Mechanobiology

Cells isolated from their tissues and subsequently cultured in vitro face different selection pressures than those in vivo. These pressures favor cell survival and proliferation, often through the induction of mutations and epigenetic alterations. In this line of research, we study the mechanical alterations that cells suffer as a consequence of continuous culture on plastic. We are also developing new strategies to mitigate the effects of on-plastic culture on mechanobiology, such as the use of physiomimetic scaffolds and organ-on-a-chip devices. These tools will help to maintain cells in a more physiologic environment, preserving their native mechanobiology for more accurate studies.

Area 2: Physiopathology of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that affects critically ill patients and has a high mortality rate of around 40%, without an effective treatment available. ARDS is a form of hypoxemic respiratory failure characterized by severe impairment in gas exchange and lung mechanics, and the aberrant inflammatory response observed in these patients (known as the cytokine storm) has been correlated with the severity of the disease and it has become one of the main therapeutic targets.
Our group belongs to the work group of ARDS of CIBERES, and during the last years we have started active and proliferative national and international collaborations. Our expertise in bioengineering allowed the development of novel physiomimetic models to better understand the pathophysiology of ARDS and the mechanobiology of the cells involved. These models have been crucial to study how cell therapy can be applied to ARDS patients.

Research projects

Study of the aberrant Mechanobiology of senescent fibroblasts in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

MechSenescence. CNS2022-135533
PI: Raimon Sunyer Borrell
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
2023 – 2025

Restoring the physiologic mechanobiology of plastic-cultured cells: implications for durotaxis

PHYSIOTAXIS. PID2021-128674OB-I00
PI: Raimon Sunyer Borrell i Jorge Otero Díaz
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
2022 – 2025

Bio-compatible hydrogels with dynamically tunable stiffness to study mechanobiology of cells and tissues

DYNAGEL. RTI2018-101256-J-I00
PI: Raimon Sunyer. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
2019-2022.

High-Yield fabrication of Biomechatronic hydrogel devices for Respiratory Injury and Disease modelling.

HYBRID. PGC2018-097323-A-I00
PI: Jorge Otero Díaz
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
2019 –2021

Publications

For more information for PI publications click in the link:

ORCID Jorge Otero: 0000-0002-0690-8015
ORCID Raimon Sunyer: 0000-0003-0777-3973

Job offers

Offers from the University of Barcelona:

Work UB

Offers from the Research Group:

At the moment, there are no job offers from this Research Group.

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