Cellular Engineering Cellular Engineering Cellular engineering is the application of the principles and methods of engineering to studies of biological cells.
Current investigations range from topics in basic cell biology to cell-based applications.
One research area investigates the influence of physical factors on cell structure and function. For example, the dynamics of vascular endothelial cells in response to shear stress are being studied, with an emphasis on the effect of pulsatile flow and a focus on cytoskeletal characteristics, mechanical properties, and cell proliferation. Related research addresses how a cell senses a mechanical signal at its cell surface and links this to changes in the cell's structure and function. This includes the roles of intracellular calcium and other second-messenger systems in the transduction of mechanical stress to modifications in basic cell functions. Other studies are investigating the role that the mechanical environment plays in the normal and pathological physiology of cells.