From biomechanics to mechanobiology

Biomechanics can be defined as the application of mechanical concepts to the living world, and various fields of research have been developed such as the mechanics of movement, ergonomics, the mechanical properties of cells and tissues, and the relationship between physiology and applied forces. In this paper, the authors give, through several examples, an outline of these approaches and their potential biomedical applications, as in tissue remodelling, cell and tissue engineering and the development of biotissues.