A nematic framework for sprouting angiogenesis
- 1LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France.
- 2Laboratoire PCC, Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR168, F-75248 Paris, France.
Abstract
Sprouting angiogenesis is critical for embryogenesis, wound healing, and tumor growth. Here, we show that the liquid crystal framework, which has recently been leveraged to study various morphogenetic events, provides unique insight into angiogenic sprouting. In response to vascular endothelial growth factor, a potent proangiogenic factor, endothelial cells cultured on the surfaces of soft collagen hydrogels form elongated cell streams that coexist with more polygonal cell regions. Angiogenic sprouting initiates preferentially at cell stream tips, where nematic order gradients are most pronounced. We demonstrate that cell streams are associated with large traction forces that lead to three-dimensional deformations of the underlying hydrogel and that stream formation results from a delicate balance between microtubule polymerization and actomyosin contractility. Last, we show that active control of nematic order allows modulation of sprout formation, highlighting the key role of endothelial cell orientation gradients in angiogenic sprouting and paving the way for new therapeutic avenues.
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BibTeX
@article{ramos2026nematic,
title = {{A nematic framework for sprouting angiogenesis}},
author = {Sara Barrasa Ramos and Carles Blanch-Mercader and Abdul I. Barakat},
journal = {Science Advances},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aeb1384},
url = {https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aeb1384},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A nematic framework for sprouting angiogenesis
AU - Sara Barrasa Ramos
AU - Carles Blanch-Mercader
AU - Abdul I. Barakat
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Science Advances
DO - 10.1126/sciadv.aeb1384
UR - https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aeb1384
AB - Sprouting angiogenesis is critical for embryogenesis, wound healing, and tumor growth. Here, we show that the liquid crystal framework, which has recently been leveraged to study various morphogenetic events, provides unique insight into angiogenic sprouting. In response to vascular endothelial growth factor, a potent proangiogenic factor, endothelial cells cultured on the surfaces of soft collagen hydrogels form elongated cell streams that coexist with more polygonal cell regions. Angiogenic sprouting initiates preferentially at cell stream tips, where nematic order gradients are most pronounced. We demonstrate that cell streams are associated with large traction forces that lead to three-dimensional deformations of the underlying hydrogel and that stream formation results from a delicate balance between microtubule polymerization and actomyosin contractility. Last, we show that active control of nematic order allows modulation of sprout formation, highlighting the key role of endothelial cell orientation gradients in angiogenic sprouting and paving the way for new therapeutic avenues.
SN - 2375-2548
ER -