Dr Marco Pensalfini

Marco Pensalfini

Lecturer in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering

School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London
www.sems.qmul.ac.uk/staff/m.pensalfini
Centre for Bioengineering
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Research

Bioengineering, Experimental Biomechanics, Multiscale Computational Modeling, Fibrous Biomaterials, Wound Healing, Bioinspired Design

Interests

My expertise is at the interface of mechanical and biomedical engineering, with a focus on the multiscale mechanics of soft fibrous biomaterials. A central theme is the development of novel experimental approaches combining mechanics and imaging techniques to unravel mechanisms of load redistribution across tissue lengthscales and address their mechanobiological relevance. I also have broad experience in establishing two-way links between experiments and corresponding computational models with predictive or interpretative function, including inverse FEA and hierarchical Bayesian inverse analysis. My work is intrinsically multidisciplinary, and over the years I have initiated multiple collaborations with clinical and industrial partners.

Publications

solid heart iconPublications of specific relevance to the Centre for Bioengineering

2023

bullet iconPensalfini M, Golde T, Trepat X and Arroyo M (2023). Nonaffine Mechanics of Entangled Networks Inspired by Intermediate Filaments. Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society (APS) vol. 131 (5) 
04-08-2023
Relevant PublicationPensalfini M and Tepole AB (2023). Mechano-biological and bio-mechanical pathways in cutaneous wound healing. PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science (PLoS) vol. 19 (3) 
09-03-2023

2020

bullet iconPensalfini M, Rotach M, Hopf R, Bielicki A, Santoprete R and Mazza E (2020). How cosmetic tightening products modulate the biomechanics and morphology of human skin. Acta Biomaterialia, Elsevier vol. 115, 299-316.  
25-08-2020
Relevant PublicationWietecha MS, Pensalfini M, Cangkrama M, Müller B, Jin J, Brinckmann J, Mazza E and Werner S (2020). Activin-mediated alterations of the fibroblast transcriptome and matrisome control the biomechanical properties of skin wounds. Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 11 (1) 
25-05-2020

2019

bullet iconWahlsten A, Pensalfini M, Stracuzzi A, Restivo G, Hopf R and Mazza E (2019). On the compressibility and poroelasticity of human and murine skin. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, Springer Nature vol. 18 (4), 1079-1093.  
26-02-2019
bullet iconBircher K, Zündel M, Pensalfini M, Ehret AE and Mazza E (2019). Tear resistance of soft collagenous tissues. Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 10 (1) 
15-02-2019

2018

bullet iconLintas V, Fioretta ES, Motta SE, Dijkman PE, Pensalfini M, Mazza E, Caliskan E, Rodriguez H, Lipiski M, Sauer M, Cesarovic N, Hoerstrup SP and Emmert MY (2018). Development of a Novel Human Cell-Derived Tissue-Engineered Heart Valve for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: an In Vitro and In Vivo Feasibility Study. Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, Springer Nature vol. 11 (6), 470-482.  
13-08-2018
bullet iconMüller B, Elrod J, Pensalfini M, Hopf R, Distler O, Schiestl C and Mazza E (2018). A novel ultra-light suction device for mechanical characterization of skin. PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS) vol. 13 (8) 
08-08-2018

2017

bullet iconPensalfini M, Weickenmeier J, Rominger M, Santoprete R, Distler O and Mazza E (2017). Location-specific mechanical response and morphology of facial soft tissues. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, Elsevier vol. 78, 108-115.  
14-11-2017
bullet iconPensalfini M, Haertel E, Hopf R, Wietecha M, Werner S and Mazza E (2017). The mechanical fingerprint of murine excisional wounds. Acta Biomaterialia, Elsevier vol. 65, 226-236.  
12-10-2017
bullet iconPensalfini M, Meneghello S, Lintas V, Bircher K, Ehret AE and Mazza E (2017). The suture retention test, revisited and revised. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, Elsevier vol. 77, 711-717.  
24-08-2017

2016

bullet iconPensalfini M, Ehret AE, Stüdeli S, Marino D, Kaech A, Reichmann E and Mazza E (2016). Factors affecting the mechanical behavior of collagen hydrogels for skin tissue engineering. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, Elsevier vol. 69, 85-97.  
09-12-2016
bullet iconKesti M, Fisch P, Pensalfini M, Mazza E and Zenobi-Wong M (2016). Guidelines for standardization of bioprinting: a systematic study of process parameters and their effect on bioprinted structures. BioNanoMaterials, De Gruyter vol. 17 (3-4), 193-204.  
19-05-2016

2015

bullet iconMaurer MM, Badir S, Pensalfini M, Bajka M, Abitabile P, Zimmermann R and Mazza E (2015). Challenging the in-vivo assessment of biomechanical properties of the uterine cervix: A critical analysis of ultrasound based quasi-static procedures. Journal of Biomechanics, Elsevier vol. 48 (9), 1541-1548.  
26-02-2015

2014

bullet iconPensalfini M, Duenwald-Kuehl S, Kondratko-Mittnacht J, Lakes R and Vanderby R (2014). Evaluation of Global Load Sharing and Shear-Lag Models to Describe Mechanical Behavior in Partially Lacerated Tendons. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, ASME International vol. 136 (9) 
15-07-2014