Cell invasion is a mechanical process in which a migrating cell applies forces causing rupturing and deformation of the tissue. Resistance of tissue to invasion is determined by adhesion strength between cells in the place of penetration, and by stiffness of deforming surroundings after chemical bonds are released. We use mechanical measurements, mechanical perturbations with optogenetics tools, imaging and computational modeling to answer the following questions:
- How do tissue mechanical resistance emerge from the characteristics of individual cells (such as cortical tension, adhesion and geometrical cell shapes)?
- How do emergent mechanical parameters affect infiltration?