This is part of a virtual seminar series in theoretical condensed matter and atomic physics, with the aim to connect researchers working at different Nordic universities.
Collective structural arrangements and cell migration are important physical processes underlying tissue development and regeneration. Understanding the complexity of cell-cell interactions and the emergence of collective behavior at the tissue scale presents formidable challenges both experimentally and theoretically. In this talk, I will discuss recent theoretical work on the dynamical patterns that emerge at the tissue scale from localised rearrangements and topological defects. Using a multi-phase field model, we demonstrate that tissue fluidity stems from cell neighbor exchanges, serving as transient sources of vortical flow. This flow emerges from the relative dispersion of cells at a rate proportional to the frequency of rearrangements. Balancing collective migration with relative cell motion appears to be essential for maintaining tissue shape and fluidity. Using a cell-based model, we study the tissue's response to the presence of a vortex. While solid-like behavior tends toward conical shapes, localised fluidisation triggers the transition to a tube, which is fundamental in biological tissues.
Zoom-link: https://nordita.org/zoom/nvcms
Condensed Matter Physics Seminar