Mechanical forces play a central role in shaping biological systems, influencing processes that span molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. At the molecular scale, mechanical interactions among biomolecules underlie essential functions such as molecular recognition, protein folding, and enzyme activity. At the cellular scale, force generation and transmission govern cytoskeletal remodeling, motor protein function, and cell–cell interactions, which are indispensable for processes like adhesion, migration, and division. At the tissue scale, mechanical cues orchestrate cell differentiation, morphogenesis, and tissue organization, thereby supporting structural integrity during development, repair, and physiological adaptation. Understanding how these forces originate and integrate across scales is essential to uncover the physical principles driving biological complexity and to inspire new strategies in fields such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and mechanotherapeutics.
This special research topic aims to bring together the mechanobiology community to explore the origins and functions of mechanical forces across scales. We seek to highlight recent advancements, address current challenges, and foster discussions on fundamental and applied aspects of mechanobiology. In particular, we emphasize the importance of identifying connections across scales, which may uncover new principles underlying the emergence of complex biological behaviors.
- Modeling of forces at different scales
- Machine Learning applied in mechanobiology
- Microscopy tools applied in mechanobiology
- Spectroscopy techniques applied in mechanobiology
- Molecular and Organismal Biophysics
- Single-molecule imaging
- Biomolecular motors
- Tissue mechanics
- Protein folding
- Forces in multicellular systems
- Nano-and microrobotics for mechanobiology
- Microfluidics for mechanobiology
- Biosensing and Interactive Platforms for Cell and Tissue Dynamics Assessment
Keywords: Mechanobiology, Molecular interactions, Cellular dynamics, Cytoskeletal mechanics, Molecular motors, Cell–cell interactions, Morphogenesis, Tissue development, Tissue engineering, Biomimetic material design, Advanced characterization techniques
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
