Nudge Theory

We all respond differently to a nudge or a kick. So do our cells, reacting to physical forces from neighbouring cells and structures in unique ways that are hard to predict. To better understand this mechanotransduction – how cells convert physical forces to biological signals – researchers have developed a new platform for precise prodding. Tiny magnetic protrusions embedded on a soft hydrogel surface act as pillars for cells to grow on and around (pictured). When the researchers apply a magnetic field, the pillars bend, tugging or pushing on the cells. The team can then measure how cells respond to various degrees of pressure, observing in real time how dynamic forces impact behaviour. Cells grown among these protrusions adopted different shapes from those grown on flat surfaces, demonstrating a platform that could eventually feed into better tissue engineering and disease modelling.

Written by Anthony Lewis

Anthony Lewis

Writer

Ant was the web editor in the early days of BPoD, and has since worked with the UK’s top science organisations as a writer and multimedia producer. He now splits his time between freelance work and managing multimedia at The Lancet.

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• Image from work by Roel Kooi and colleagues
• Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
• Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in Advanced Health Care Materials, February 2026