Publikationen Abteilung Immunophysik

In this manuscript, we carry out a systematic study on the mechanics and rheology of cellular aggregate formations. We study how cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions influence cellular aggregation, which can be described as an active phase separation process. Furthermore, we investigate the mechanisms underlying the coalescence of aggregates. The problem is analyzed in both Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks and the computational intricacies for each approach are highlighted. Using our recently developed micromorphic-based artificial diffusion method, we circumvent the numerical instabilities arising from the convective nature of the problem. Finally, via a comprehensive numerical study, we investigate the dynamics of the cellular aggregate formation under various conditions. A notable agreement between the numerical and experimental results is observed. Our work provides significant insights into the mechanics of cellular aggregates which paves the way for better understanding the role of active mechanical forces in biological systems.