Research
Mechanotransduction, Focal Adhesions, Mechanosensitive Ion Channels, Bioelectricity, Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials
Interests
My research aims to understand the physical principles behind cell-matrix interactions. By merging cell engineering techniques and materials science, I aim to create materials that can steer cellular function, offering new solutions to age-old medical challenges.
At SPCS (QMUL) I lead the “Cellular reprogramming through mechanotransduction” research group, where significant portion of our work is dedicated to optimizing mechanochemical tools for:
1)Understanding how biophysical cues are sensed and integrated into cellular signaling within living tissues.
2)Developing therapeutic technologies for in-situ tissue regeneration that are reliable, safer, and cost-effective.
Research Interests:
a.Engineering Immunity: We focus on leveraging the inflammatory responses to biomaterials to engineer immunomodulatory strategies for tissue repair.
b.Mechanochemical Cell Biology: We design biomimetic platforms to understand how cells interact and communicate with their mechanochemical environments.
c.Regenerative Electroceuticals: Developing bioelectric devices for interfacing with cellular processes as regenerative medicine therapies.
d.Implant Biointegration: We formulate easy, cost-effective and reliable strategies for more efficient implant-tissue integration, addressing the issues of post-implantation instability.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Chemical Research
2024
A Tympanic Piezo‐Bioreactor Modulates Ion Channel‐Associated Mechanosignaling to Stabilize Phenotype and Promote Tenogenesis in Human Tendon‐Derived Cells.Fernandez‐Yague MA,
Palma M, Tofail SAM, Duffy M, Quinlan LR, Dalby MJ, Pandit A and Biggs MJ
Advanced Science,
Wiley vol. 11 (45)
22-10-2024 
FAK, vinculin, and talin control mechanosensitive YAP nuclear localizationHolland EN, Fernández-Yagüe MA, Zhou DW, O'Neill EB, Woodfolk AU, Mora-Boza A, Fu J, Schlaepfer DD and García AJ
Biomaterials,
Elsevier vol. 308
20-03-20242022
Adhesive peptide and polymer density modulate 3D cell traction forces within synthetic hydrogelsColasurdo M, Nieves EB, Fernández-Yagüe MA, Franck C and García AJ
Biomaterials,
Elsevier vol. 288
11-08-2022 A Self‐Powered Piezo‐Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair‐Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion ChannelsFernandez-Yague MA, Trotier A, Demir S, Abbah SA, Larrañaga A, Thirumaran A, Stapleton A, Tofail SAM, Palma M, Kilcoyne M, Pandit A and Biggs MJ
Advanced Materials,
Wiley vol. 34 (14)
01-04-2022 Analyzing immune response to engineered hydrogels by hierarchical clustering of inflammatory cell subsetsFernandez-Yague MA, Hymel LA, Olingy CE, McClain C, Ogle ME, García JR, Minshew D, Vyshnya S, Lim HS, Qiu P, García AJ and Botchwey EA
Science Advances,
American Association For The Advancement of Science (Aaas) vol. 8 (8)
25-02-2022 2021
A Self‐Powered Piezo‐Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair‐Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels (Adv. Mater. 40/2021)Fernandez‐Yague MA, Trotier A, Demir S, Abbah SA, Larrañaga A, Thirumaran A, Stapleton A, Tofail SAM, Palma M, Kilcoyne M, Pandit A and Biggs MJ
Advanced Materials,
Wiley vol. 33 (40)
01-10-2021 A Self‐Powered Piezo‐Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair‐Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion ChannelsFernandez‐Yague MA, Trotier A, Demir S, Abbah SA, Larrañaga A, Thirumaran A, Stapleton A, Tofail SAM,
Palma M, Kilcoyne M, Pandit A and Biggs MJ
Advanced Materials,
Wiley vol. 33 (40)
23-08-2021 Force-FAK signaling coupling at individual focal adhesions coordinates mechanosensing and microtissue repairZhou DW, Fernández-Yagüe MA, Holland EN, García AF, Castro NS, O’Neill EB, Eyckmans J, Chen CS, Fu J, Schlaepfer DD and García AJ
Nature Communications,
Springer Nature vol. 12 (1)
21-04-2021 In vitro analysis of a physiological strain sensor formulated from a PEDOT:PSS functionalized carbon nanotube-poly(glycerol sebacate urethane) compositeTadayyon G, Krukiewicz K, Britton J, Larrañaga A, Vallejo-Giraldo C,
Fernandez-Yague M, Guo Y, Orpella-Aceret G, Li L, Poudel A and Biggs MJP
Materials Science and Engineering C,
Elsevier vol. 121
06-01-2021 2020
Nanovibrational Stimulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induces Therapeutic Reactive Oxygen Species and Inflammation for Three-Dimensional Bone Tissue Engineering.Orapiriyakul W, Tsimbouri MP, Childs P, Campsie P, Wells J,
Fernandez-Yague MA, Burgess K,
Tanner KE, Tassieri M, Meek D, Vassalli M, Biggs MJP, Salmeron-Sanchez M, Oreffo ROC, Reid S and Dalby MJ
Acs Nano,
American Chemical Society 23-07-2020 Pancreatic Islets: Functionalization of Alginate with Extracellular Matrix Peptides Enhances Viability and Function of Encapsulated Porcine Islets (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 9/2020)Medina JD, Alexander M, Hunckler MD, Fernández‐Yagüe MA, Coronel MM, Smink AM, Lakey JR, de Vos P and García AJ
Advanced Healthcare Materials,
Wiley vol. 9 (9)
01-05-2020 Functionalization of Alginate with Extracellular Matrix Peptides Enhances Viability and Function of Encapsulated Porcine IsletsMedina JD, Alexander M, Hunckler MD, Fernández‐Yagüe MA, Coronel MM, Smink AM, Lakey JR, de Vos P and García AJ
Advanced Healthcare Materials,
Wiley vol. 9 (9)
07-04-2020 2019
Boron Nitride Nanotube Addition Enhances the Crystallinity and Cytocompatibility of PVDF-TrFEPoudel A, Fernandez MA, Tofail SAM and Biggs MJP
Frontiers in Chemistry,
Frontiers vol. 7
21-05-2019 Enhanced osteoconductivity on electrically charged titanium implants treated by physicochemical surface modifications methodsFernández-Yagüe M, Antoñanzas RP, Roa JJ, Biggs M, Gil FJ and Pegueroles M
Nanomedicine Nanotechnology Biology and Medicine,
Elsevier vol. 18, 1-10.
26-02-2019 2018
In vivo efficiency of antimicrobial inorganic bone grafts in osteomyelitis treatmentsMestres G,
Fernandez-Yague MA, Pastorino D, Montufar EB, Canal C, Manzanares-Céspedes MC and Ginebra MP
Materials Science and Engineering C,
Elsevier vol. 97, 84-95.
28-11-2018 Attenuated Glial Reactivity on Topographically Functionalized Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene):P-Toluene Sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) Neuroelectrodes Fabricated by Microimprint Lithography.Vallejo-Giraldo C, Krukiewicz K, Calaresu I, Zhu J,
Palma M,
Fernandez-Yague M, McDowell B, Peixoto N, Farid N, O'Connor G, Ballerini L, Pandit A and Biggs MJP
Small vol. 14 (28), e1800863-e1800863.
01-07-2018 2017
Antioxidant functionalized polymer capsules to prevent oxidative stressLarrañaga A, Isa ILM, Patil V, Thamboo S, Lomora M, Fernández-Yague MA, Sarasua J-R, Palivan CG and Pandit A
Acta Biomaterialia,
Elsevier vol. 67, 21-31.
16-12-2017 Direct Laser Interference Patterning of CoCr Alloy Surfaces to Control Endothelial Cell and Platelet Response for Cardiovascular ApplicationsSchieber R, Lasserre F, Hans M, Fernández‐Yagüe M, Díaz‐Ricart M, Escolar G, Ginebra M, Mücklich F and Pegueroles M
Advanced Healthcare Materials,
Wiley vol. 6 (19)
17-07-2017 2016
Effects of isothermal crystallization on the mechanical properties of a elastomeric medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoateLarrañaga A, Pompanon F, Gruffat N, Palomares T, Alonso-Varona A, Varga AL,
Fernandez-Yague MA, Biggs MJP and Sarasua JR
European Polymer Journal,
Elsevier vol. 85, 401-410.
01-12-2016 Polyhydroxyalkanoate/carbon nanotube nanocomposites: flexible electrically conducting elastomers for neural applicationsVallejo-Giraldo C, Pugliese E, Larraaga A,
Fernandez-Yague MA, Britton JJ, Trotier A, Tadayyon G, Kelly A, Rago I, Sarasua J-R, Dowd E, Quinlan LR, Pandit A and Biggs MJ
Nanomedicine,
Taylor & Francis vol. 11 (19), 2547-2563.
13-09-2016 Biological Activity on Piezoelectric PVDFFernandez-Yague MA, Vallejo-Giraldo C, Aceret GO, Pandit A and Biggs MJ
In
Electrically Active Materials For Medical Devices,
World Scientific Publishing 167-176.
08-08-2016 2015
Effects of Polydopamine Functionalization on Boron Nitride Nanotube Dispersion and CytocompatibilityFernandez-Yague MA, Larrañaga A, Gladkovskaya O, Stanley A, Tadayyon G, Guo Y, Sarasua J-R, Tofail SAM, Zeugolis DI, Pandit A and Biggs MJ
Bioconjugate Chemistry,
American Chemical Society (Acs) vol. 26 (10), 2025-2037.
15-09-2015 Determination of fluid leakages in the different screw-retained implant-abutment connections in a mechanical artificial mouthMartin-Gili D, Molmeneu M, Fernandez M, Punset M, Giner L, Armengou J and Gil FJ
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine,
Springer Nature vol. 26 (7)
01-07-2015 Nanoscale neuroelectrode modification via sub-20 nm silicon nanowires through self-assembly of block copolymersMokarian-Tabari P, Vallejo-Giraldo C,
Fernandez-Yague M, Cummins C, Morris MA and Biggs MJP
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine,
Springer Nature vol. 26 (2)
01-02-2015 Advances in surfaces and osseointegration in implantology. Biomimetic surfacesAlbertini M,
Fernandez-Yague M, Lázaro P, Herrero-Climent M, Rios-Santos J-V, Bullon P and Gil F-J
Medicina Oral Patología Oral Y Cirugia Bucal,
Medicina Oral, S.L. vol. 20 (3), e316-e325.
01-01-2015 2014
Biomimetic approaches in bone tissue engineering: Integrating biological and physicomechanical strategiesFernandez-Yague MA, Abbah SA, McNamara L, Zeugolis DI, Pandit A and Biggs MJ
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews,
Elsevier vol. 84, 1-29.
16-09-2014 2013
Analysis of the misfit of dental implant-supported prostheses made with three manufacturing processesFernández M, Delgado L, Molmeneu M, García D and Rodríguez D
Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry,
Elsevier vol. 111 (2), 116-123.
28-10-2013
