#3 Ghost in the cytoskeleton: The dialectics of constraint and closure

How do cytoskeletal forces shape wound healing at the cellular scale? In this project, we extend the classical vertex model by introducing an interaction between a cell’s vertices and its center, enforcing a stable distance that mimics cytoskeletal tension. This modification constrains the typically flexible polygonal shapes of the vertex model, forcing them into near-circular configurations. By simulating wound closure under this framework, we will investigate whether these added constraints introduce new closure regimes, modify existing ones, or has no major impact.

This project blends computational physics, biophysics, and statistical mechanics, making it ideal for students interested in emergent behavior in living systems. Over the course of a couple of weeks, the student will implement the new interaction, run simulations, and compare the results with known wound closure diagrams. Depending on progress, we may also explore how this constraint impacts cell rearrangements and tissue mechanics.

The results of this study could provide new insights into the mechanical regulation of tissue repair, with implications for both theoretical biology and biomedical applications. The project is designed to be intensive but achievable within the timeframe, with potential for further development.

Requirements:

·        Background in physics or associated areas;

·        Basic programming skills (Python);

·        Interest in biophysics and emergent phenomena (a plus)