Ethological dynamics in diorama environments

Cellular intelligence displayed through the interaction with diorama 3D topography

Principal
investigator

Kei SugiharaKyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences

The goal of this study is to elucidate the mutual interactions between cells and three-dimensional (3D) topography in multicellular organisms. In recent years, bioengineering studies have revealed that cells can sense and respond to 3D topography in artificial environments. Because various types of 3D topography are formed by the cells in multicellular organisms, it is assumed that their cells not only sense but also affect the topography, resulting in functional tissue structure. However, little work has been done on cell-topography interactions in vivo, probably due to the absence of experimental tools that assess topographic effects exclusively. In this study, we will focus on multiple biological phenomena in which the interaction between cells and 3D topography likely plays an important role. We will develop minimal mathematical models to describe these interactions and novel experimental systems using diorama 3D topography, especially that of biomaterials, to assess them. We aim to elucidate the interaction between cells and 3D topography realized by cellular proto-intelligence and thereby to explore the physiological significance of the tissue structure formed by the interactions.