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Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Visualizing Single Molecular Complexes In Vivo Using Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: September 8, 2009
The Cell as Matter: Connecting Molecular Biology to Cellular Functions
Yiwei Li1, Wenhui Tang1, Ming Guo1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Abstract:
Viewing cell as matter to understand the intracellular biomolecular processes and multicellular tissue behavior represents an emerging research area at the interface of physics and biology. Cellular material displays various physical and mechanical properties, which can strongly affect both intracellular and multicellular biological events. This review provides a summary of how cells, as matter, connect molecular biology to cellular and multicellular scale functions. As an impact in molecular biology, we review recent progresses in utilizing cellular material properties to direct cell fate decisions in the communities of immune cells, neurons, stem cells, and cancer cells. Finally, we provide an outlook on how to integrate cellular material properties in developing biophysical methods for engineered living systems, regenerative medicine, and disease treatments.
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