Rheological patterning of embryonic organoids – RHEMBO

Mouse embryonic stem cells can self-organize into 3D embryonic organoids called Gastruloids. We want to understand (1) how heterogeneities in cell properties (depending on gene expression) and at cell interfaces (adhesion and tension) control the local rheological properties of the tissue (2) how mechanical stresses affect embryonic cell differentiation (3) and how an active feedback between mechanical stresses and cell differentiation contributes to the self-organization of Gastruloids. To address these questions, we will (1) combine microscopy and image analysis to quantify how self-organization occurs, (2) measure the Gastruloids rheological properties by combining single-cell level imaging during mechanical aspiration experiments using a microfluidic system, (3) modify the mechanical boundary conditions imposed to Gastruloids and explore how these affect the local cell shape and gene expression of the embryonic stem cells.