The Grainger College of Engineering

Ning Wang

Ning Wang
Ning Wang he/him/his
  • Adjunct Professor
(217) 265-0913
2326 Mechanical Engineering Lab

For More Information

Education

  • Sc.D. Physiology Harvard 1990
  • M.S. Biomedical Huazhong University of Science & Technology 1984
  • B.S. Biomechanics Huazhong University of Science & Technology 1982

Academic Positions

  • Leonard C and Mary Lou Hoeft Endowed Professor in Engineering, UIUC, 2014-date
  • Professor, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, UIUC, March 1, 2006-date
  • Senior Lecturer, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, July 2005-February 2006.
  • Associate Professor, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, 2000-2005
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, 1994-2000
  • Research Associate, Department of Physiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 1990-1994
  • Research Fellow, Department of Physiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 1986-1990
  • Visiting Fellow, Department of Physiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 1986-1987
  • Visiting Fellow, Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, National Institutes of Health, 1984-1986

Professional Highlights

  • Gene expression altered by direction of forces acting on cell. EurekAlert! AAAS Oct 1, 2020. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/uoia-gea100120.php
  • Gene expression altered by direction of forces acting on cell. University of Illinois News Bureau. September 29, 2020. https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/385931150
  • Physical force alone spurs gene expression. April 1, 2020. EurekAlert! AAAS Oct 1, 2020. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/uoia-pfa033020.php
  • Physical force alone spurs gene expression. April 1, 2020. University of Illinois News Bureau. https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/807627
  • Watching Cancer Cells Play Ball. National Institutes of Health Director’s Blog. Dr. Francis Collins. July 12, 2018. https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2018/07/12/watching-cancer-cells-play-ball/
  • Highlighted in July 2018 Biomedical Picture of the Day (BPoD), London Institute of Medical Sciences. July 9, 2018. http://bpod.mrc.ac.uk/archive/2018/7/9

Course Development

  • ME483 Mechanobiology, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021
  • TAM 461/BioE461 Cellular Biomechanics, Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall, 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019 Fall, 2020
  • ME498 Introduction to Biology for Engineers, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009
  • ME598 Mechanobiology for Engineers, Fall 2006, Fall 2007

Research Statement

Professor Wang uses advanced research techniques to gain a fundamental understanding of cell mechanics, including cytoskeletal biomechanics and control of cell form and function; bio-imaging of cytoskeletal structures and stress distribution in living cells; mechanotransduction, nuclear deformation and gene expression; and mechanical biotechnologies and their applications to cells, tissues, and organisms.

He has developed a technology called intracellular stress tomography, which he uses to address fundamental questions about stress propogation and distribution in living cells. He has also developed three-dimensional magnetic twisting cytometry technology and used it to quantify mechanical anisotropy in living cells.

Professor Wang was the first researcher to provide direct evidence that transmembrane adhesion molecule integrins mediate the transmission of force across the cell surface to the cytoskeleton. This fundamental finding opened the field of cell mechanics to the study of combinating biochemistry and biomechanics at cellular and subcellular levels. Using a technique called magnetic twisting cytometry to deliver small forces to specific sites on the cell membrane, he also demonstrated that cytoskeleton tension plays a dominant role in dictating cell shear stiffness and thus cell shape stability. He also showed that these localized forces cause cytoplasmic and nuclear deformation in remote parts of the cell. Recent collaborative work with colleagues at Harvard and Boston universities resulted in a fundamental finding that cells can adjust their internal response to external forces depending on how fast or slow these forces are applied. His research group currently has active collaborations with five different laboratories on campus, including the Bioengineering Department, the Beckman Institute, the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Research Interests

  • Cellular and molecular mechanomedicine
  • Cancer cell biology and mechanics
  • Embryonic stem cell biology and mechanics
  • Mechanical biotechnologies and their applications to cells, tissues, and organisms
  • Mechanotransduction: nuclear deformation and gene expression
  • Bio-imaging of cytoskeletal structures and stress distribution in living cells
  • Cytoskeletal biomechanics and controls of cell form and function

Research Areas

  • Applied Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Health and Bio
  • Solid Mechanics and Materials

Research Topics

  • Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Engineering

Selected Articles in Journals

  • Rashid F, Liu W, Wang Q, Ji B*, Irudayaraj, J*, Wang N*. Mechanomemory in protein diffusivity of chromatin and nucleoplasm after force cessation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Mar 28;120(13):e2221432120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2221432120. Epub 2023 Mar 21. PubMed PMID: 36943889. *Co-Corresponding author.
  • Mohagheghian E, Luo J, Yavitt FM, Wei F, Amar K, Bhala P, Rashid F, Wang Y, Liu X, Ji C, Chen J, Arnold DP, Liu Z, Anseth KS*, Wang N*. Quantifying stiffness and forces of tumor colonies and embryos using a magnetic microrobot. Science Robotics. 2023 Jan 25;8(74):eadc9800. doi: 10.1126/scirobotics.adc9800. Epub 2023 Jan 25.PMID: 36696474. *Co-corresponding authors.
  • Yavitt FM, Kirkpatrick BE, Blatchley MR, Speckl KF, Mohagheghian E, Moldovan R, Wang N, Dempsey PJ, Anseth KS. In situ modulation of intestinal organoid epithelial curvature through photoinduced viscoelasticity directs crypt morphogenesis. Science Advances. 2023 Jan 20;9(3):eadd5668. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.add5668. Epub 2023 Jan 20. PubMed PMID: 36662859.
  • Chowdhury F*, Huang B*, Wang N*. Forces in stem cells and cancer stem cells. Cells and Development. 170, 203776 (2022). doi: 10.1016/j.cdev.2022.203776. Pubmed PMID: 35346899. *Co-corresponding authors.
  • Zhang Y, Dong Q, An Q, Zhang C, Mohagheghian E, Niu B, Qi F, Wei F, Chen S, Chen X, Wang A, Cao X*, Wang N*, Chen J*. Synthetic Retinoid Kills Drug-Resistant Cancer Stem Cells via Inducing RARγ-Translocation-Mediated Tension Reduction and Chromatin Decondensation. Advanced Science (Weinh). 2021 Oct 23; S1742-7061(21)00700-5 (2022). doi: 10.1002/advs.202203173. Online ahead of print. *Co-Corresponding authors. PubMed PMID: 36031407. PMCID: PMC9033892 (available on 2023-04-23).
  • Sun J, Chen J, Amar K, Wu Y, Jiang M, Wang N*. LAP2β transmits force to upregulate genes via chromatin domain stretching but not compression. Acta Biomater. 2021 Oct 23; S1742-7061(21)00700-5 (2021). doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.10.029. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34700042. PubMed Central PMCID in progress (12 months after publication). *Corresponding author.PMID: 34700042. PubMed Central PMCID in progress (12 months after publication). *Corresponding author.
  • Amar K, Wei F, Chen C, Wang N. Effects of forces on chromatin. APL Bioengineering 5, 041503 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0065302. Published Online: 13 October 2021.
  • Berg IC, Mohagheghian E, Habing K, Wang N, Underhill GH. Microtissue Geometry and Cell-Generated Forces Drive Patterning of Liver Progenitor Cell Differentiation in 3D. Adv Healthc Mater. 2021 Apr 23:e2100223. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202100223. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33890430
  • Chowdhury F*, Huang B*, Wang N*. Cytoskeletal prestress: the cellular hallmark in mechanobiology and mechanomedicine. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken). 2021 Mar 22. doi: 10.1002/cm.21658. PubMed PMID: 33754478 *Co-corresponding authors.
  • Lv J, Liu Y, Cheng F, Li J, Zhou Y, Zhang T, Zhou N, Li C, Wang Z, Ma L, Liu M, Zhu Q, Liu X, Tang K, Ma J, Zhang H, Xie J, Fang Y, Zhang H, Wang N, Liu Y, Huang B. Cell softness regulates tumorigenicity and stemness of cancer cells. EMBO J. 2020 Dec 4:e106123. doi: 10.15252/embj.2020106123. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33274785
  • Liu Y, Zhang T, Zhang H, Li J, Zhou N, Fiskesund R, Chen J, Lv J, Ma J, Zhang H, Tang K, Cheng F, Zhou Y, Zhang XH, Wang N, Huang B. Cell softness prevents cytolytic T cell killing of tumor-repopulating cells. Cancer Res. 2020 Nov 9:canres.2569.2020. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-20-2569. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33168645
  • Wei F*, Xu X, Zhang C, Liao Y, Ji B*, Wang N*. Stress fiber anisotropy contributes to force-mode dependent chromatin stretching and gene upregulation in living cells. Nature Communications. Sep 29; 11, 4902 (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18584-5. *Co-Corresponding author. PubMed PMID: 32994402.
  • Sun J#, Chen J#, Mohagheghian E, Wang N*. Force-induced gene upregulation does not follow the weak power law but depends on H3K9 demethylation. Science Advances. 6(14): eaay9095, 2020. Published online April 1, 2020. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay9095 #Co-first authors. PubMed PMID: 32270037. Pubmed Central PMCID: PMC7112933. *Corresponding author.
  • Mohagheghian E, Luo J, Chen J, Chaudhary G, Chen JW, Sun J, Ewoldt RH, Wang N*. Quantifying compressive forces between living cell layers and within tissues using elastic round microgels. Nature Communications. 2018 May 14; 9(1):1878. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04245-1. PubMed PMID: 29760452. Pubmed Central PMCID: PMC5951850. *Corresponding author.
  • Chen J$, Cao X$, An Q, Zhang Y, Li K, Yao W, Shi F, Pan Y, Jia Q, Zhou W, Yang F, Wei F, Wang N*, Yu B*. Inhibition of cancer stem cell like cells by a synthetic retinoid. Nature Communications Apr 11; 9 (1):1406, 2018. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03877-7. PubMed PMID: 29643385. Pubmed Central PMCID: PMC5895803. $Co-first authors. *Co-Corresponding authors.
  • Tajik, A., Y. Zhang, F. Wei, J. Sun, Q. Jia, W. Zhou, R. Singh, N. Khanna, A.S. Belmont*, and N. Wang*, "Transcription upregulation via force-induced direct stretching of chromatin," Nature Materials 15(12):1287-1296, 2016. doi: 10.1038/nmat4729. PubMed PMID: 27548707. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5121013. *Co-corresponding authors.
  • Tan, Y., A. Tajik, J.W. Chen, Q. Jia, F. Chowdhury, L. Wang, J.J. Junjian Chen, S. Zhang, Y. Ying Hong, H. Yi, D.C. Wu, Y. Zhang, F. Wei, Y.C. Poh, J. Seong, R. Singh, L.J. Lin, S. DoÄŸanay, Y. Li, H. Jia, T. Ha, Y. Wang, B. Huang, and N. Wang*, "Matrix softness regulates plasticity of tumour-repopulating cells via H3K9 demethylation and Sox2 expression," Nature Communications. 5:4619 (2014) doi: 10.1038/ncomms5619. *Corresponding author.
  • Poh, Y.C., J.W. Chen, Y. Ying Hong, H. Yi, S. Zhang, J.J. Chen, D.C. Wu, L. Wang, Q. Jia, R. Singh, W. Yao, Y. Tan, A. Tajik, T.S. Tanaka, and N. Wang*, "Generation of organized germ layers from a single mouse embryonic stem cell," Nature Communications. May 30; 5:4000 (2014). doi: 10.1038/ncomms5000. PMID: 24873804. PMCID: PMC4050279. *Corresponding author.
  • Liu, J., Y Tan , H. Zhang, Y. Zhang, P. Xu, J. Chen, Y. C. Poh, K. Tang, N. Wang*, and B. Huang*, "Soft Fibrin Gels Promote Selection and Growth of Tumorigenic Cells," Nature Materials. 11(8):734-41, 2012. PMID:22751180. PMC3405191. * Co-corresponding senior authors.
  • Poh, Y. C., S. P. Shevtsov, F. Chowdhury, D. C. Wu, S. Na, M. Dundr*, and N. Wang*, "Dynamic Force-induced Direct Dissociation of Protein Complexes in a Nuclear Body in Living Cells," Nature Communications. 3: 866 doi:10.1038/ncomms1873. 2012. PMID: 22643893. *Co-corresponding authors.
  • !Chowdhury, F., S. Na, D. Li, Y.C. Poh, T. Tanaka, F. Wang, and N. Wang*, "Material Properties of the Cell Dictate Stress-induced Spreading and Differentiation in Embryonic Stem Cells," Nature Materials, Jan; 9(1):82-8, 2010. Publication online 18 October, 2009. DOI: 10.1038/NMAT2563. PMID: 19838182 PMC2833279 (Commented in News and Views of the same issue of Nat Mater. by Holle and Engler, Cell rheology: Stressed-out stem cells, 9:4-6, 2010). *Corresponding author.
  • Na, S., O. Collin, F. Chowdhury, B. Tay, M. Ouyang, Y. Wang, and N. Wang*, "Rapid Signal Transduction in Living Cells is a Unique Feature of Mechanotransduction", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105, 6626-6631, 2008. *Corresponding author. This paper is highlighted in Editor's Choice Section in Science Signaling, the weekly journal and knowledge environment from the publishers of Science magazine, A. M. VanHook, Faster than a Speeding Molecule, Science Signaling, 1, ec175, 2008.
  • ! Hu, S., L. Eberhard, J. Chen, J. C. Love, J. P. Butler, J. J. Fredberg, G. M. Whitesides, and N. Wang*, “Mechanical Anisotropy of Adherent Cells Probed by a Three Dimensional Magnetic Twisting Device,” American Journal of Physiology Cell Physiology, 287, C1184-C1191, 2004. *Corresponding author.
  • Hu, S., J. Chen, B. Fabry, Y. Numaguchi, A. Gouldstone, D. E. Ingber, J. J. Fredberg, J. P. Butler, and N. Wang*, “Intracellular Stress Tomography Reveals Stress Focusing and Structural Anisotropy in the Cytoskeleton of Living Cells,” American Journal of Physiology Cell, 285, C1082-C1090, 2003. *Corresponding author.
  • Wang, N*., I. M. Tolić-Norrelykke, J. Chen, S. M. Mijailovich, J. P. Butler, J. J. Fredberg, and D. Stamenović, “Cell Prestress. I. Stiffness and Prestress are Closely Associated in Adherent Contractile Cells,” American Journal of Physiology Cell, 282, C606-C616, 2002. *Corresponding author.
  • Wang, N, Naruse K, Stamenovic D, Fredberg JJ, Mijailovich SM, Tolic-Norrelykke IM, Polte T, Mannix R, Ingber DE. Mechanical behavior in living cells consistent with the tensegrity model. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 98: 7765-7770, 2001. PubMed PMID: 11438729
  • Chen, J., B. Fabry, E. L. Schiffrin, and N. Wang*, “Twisting Integrin Receptors Increases Endothelin-1 Gene Expression,” Am. J. Physiol. Cell, 280, C1475-C1484, 2001. *Corresponding author.
  • Wang, N., J. P. Butler, and D. E. Ingber, “Mechanotransduction Across the Cell Surface and Through the Cytoskeleton,” Science, 260, 1124-1127, 1993.
  • Liu K, Luo J, Ma T, Fang M, Xu Z, Wang L, Zhang XY, Wen J, Liu C, Cao Y, Li X, Zhang L, Guo A, Wang N, Yi P, Liu JY. Germline Mutation of PLCD1 Contributes to Human Multiple Pilomatricomas through Protein Kinase D/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase1/2 Cascade and TRPV6. J Invest Dermatol Aug 11; S0022-202X(20)31968-0 (2020). doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.05.121. PubMed PMID: 32795530.
  • Huang W, Hu H, Zhang Q, Wang N, Yang X, Guo AY. Genome-wide DNA methylation enhances stemness in the mechanical selection of tumor-repopulating cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 8(88):1-15, 2020. Published March 17, 2020. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00088.
  • Huang W, Hu H, Zhang Q, Wu X, Wei F, Yang F, Gan L, Wang N, Yang X, Guo AY. Regulatory networks in mechanotransduction reveal key genes in promoting cancer cell stemness and proliferation. Oncogene. 38(42):6818-6834, 2019. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0925-0. PubMed PMID: 31406247. Pubmed Central PMCID: PMC6988105.
  • J Chen, Wang N*. Tissue cell differentiation and multicellular evolution via cytoskeletal stiffening in mechanically stressed microenvironments. Acta Mechanica Sinica, 35, 270-274, 2019. DOI: 10.1007/s10409-018-0814-8. *Corresponding author.
  • Liu Y, Zhang T, Zhou Y, Li J, Liang X, Zhou N, Lv J, Xie J, Cheng F, Fang Y, Gao Y, Wang N, Huang B. Visualization of perforin/gasdermin/complement-formed pores in real cell membranes using atomic force microscopy. Cell Mol Immunol. 2018 Oct 3. doi: 10.1038/s41423-018-0165-1. PMID: 30283066.
  • Wu PH*, Aroush DR, Asnacios A*, Chen WC, Dokukin ME, Doss BL, Durand-Smet P, Ekpenyong A, Guck J*, Guz NV, Janmey PA*, Lee JSH, Moore NM, Ott A*, Poh YC, Ros R*, Sander M, Sokolov I*, Staunton JR, Wang N*, Whyte G, Wirtz D*. A comparison of methods to assess cell mechanical properties. Nature Methods. Jun 18. 15(7):491-498, 2018. doi: 10.1038/s41592-018-0015-1. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed PMID: 29915189. PMCID in process. *Co-Corresponding authors.
  • Chowdhury F, Doğanay S, Leslie BJ, Singh R, Amar K, Talluri B, Park S, Wang N, Ha T. Cdc42-dependent modulation of rigidity sensing and cell spreading in tumor repopulating cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018 Jun 7;500(3):557-563. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.04.085. Epub 2018 Apr 23. PubMed PMID: 29673588. PMCID in process.
  • Liu Y, Lv J, Liang X, Yin X, Zhang L, Chen D, Jin X, Fiskesund R, Tang K, Ma J, Zhang H, Dong W, Mo S, Zhang T, Cheng F, Zhou Y, Xie J, Wang N, Huang B. Fibrin stiffness mediates dormancy of tumor-repopulating cells via a Cdc42-driven Tet2 epigenetic program. Cancer Research. 2018 Jul 15; 78(14):3926-3937. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-3719. Epub 2018 May 15. PubMed PMID: 29764867. PMCID in process.
  • Zhang Y$, Wei F$, Poh YC, Jia Q, Chen JW, Chen J, Luo J, Yao W, Zhou W, Huang W, Yang F, Zhang Y, Wang N*. Interfacing 3D magnetic twisting cytometry with confocal fluorescence microscopy to image force responses in living cells. Nature Protocols 12, 1437–1450, 2017. PubMed PMID: 28686583. Pubmed Central PMCID: PMC5555169. $Co-first authors.*Corresponding author.
  • Wang N. Review of cellular mechanotransduction. J Phys D: Applied Physics 50 (23), 233002, 2017. PubMed PMID: 29097823. Pubmed Central PMCID: PMC5662120.
  • Wang N. Instant integrin mechanosensing. Nature Materials Nov 24; 16(12):1173-1174, 2017. doi: 10.1038/nmat5041. PubMed PMID: 29170552. PubMed Central PMCID in process.
  • Luo, S., Y. Li, R. Ma, J. Liu, P. Xu, H. Zhang, K. Tang, J. Ma, N. Liu, Y. Zhang, Y. Sun, T. Ji, X. Liang, X. Yin, Y. Liu, W. Tong, Y. Niu, N. Wang, X. Wang, and B. Huang, "Downregulation of PCK2 remodels tricarboxylic acid cycle in tumor-repopulating cells of melanoma," Oncogene. 2017 Feb 6. doi: 10.1038/onc.2016.520. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28166201. PubMed Central PMCID is in process.
  • Chen, J., W. Zhou, Q. Jia, J. Chen, S. Zhang, W. Yao, F. Wei, Y. Zhang, F. Yang, W. Huang, Y. Zhang, H. Zhang, Y. Zhang, B. Huang, Z. Zhang, H. Jia,* and N. Wang*, "Efficient extravasation of tumor-repopulating cells depends on cell deformability," Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). 6, 19304, 2016. PubMed PMID: 26787224. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4726408. *Co-Corresponding author.
  • Ma J, Zhang Y, Tang K, Zhang H, Yin X, Li Y, Xu P, Sun Y, Ma R, Ji T, Chen J, Zhang S, Zhang T, Luo S, Jin, Y., X. Luo, C. Li, H. Gong, Z. Long, J. Lu, Z. Hu, X. Cao, N. Wang, X. Yang, and B. Huang, "Reversing drug resistance of soft tumor-repopulating cells by tumor cell-derived chemotherapeutic microparticles," Cell Research 26(6):713-27, 2016. doi: 10.1038/cr.2016.53. PubMed PMID: 27167569.
  • Muhamed, I., J. Wu, P. Sehgal, X. Kong, A. Tajik, N. Wang, and D.E. Leckband, "E-Cadherin-mediated force transduction signals regulate global cell mechanics," J Cell Sci 129(9):1843-54, 2016. PubMed PMID: 26966187. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4893802.
  • Li, Y., S. Luo, R. Ma, J. Liu, P. Xu, H. Zhang, K. Tang, J. Ma, Y. Zhang, X. Liang, Y. Sun, T. Ji, N. Wang, and B. Huang, "Upregulation of cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase is a critical metabolic event in melanoma cells that repopulate tumors," Cancer Research. 75(7):1191-6, 2015. Feb 24. pii: canres.2615.2014. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 25712344. PMCID: PMC4629827.
  • Kim, T.J., C. Joo, J. Seong, R. Vafabakhsh, E.L. Botvinick, M.W. Berns, A.E. Palmer, N. Wang, T. Ha, E. Jakobsson, J. Sun, and Y. Wang, "Distinct mechanisms regulating mechanical force-induced Ca²⁺ signals at the plasma membrane and the ER in human MSCs," Elife. Feb 10; 4:e04876 (2015). doi: 10.7554/eLife.04876. PMID: 25667984. PMCID: PMC4337650.
  • Barry, A., N. Wang, and D. Leckband, "Local VE-Cadherin Mechanotransduction Activates Global Signals that Remodel Endothelial Monolayers," J Cell Sci. Apr 1; 128(7):1341-51, 2015. PMID: 25663699. PMCID: PMC4379726.
  • Chowdhury, F., I.T.S. Li, B.J. Leslie, S. Doğanay, R. Singh, X. Wang, J. Seong, S.H. Lee, S. Park, N. Wang*, and T. Ha*, "Single molecular force across single integrins dictates cell spreading," Integrative Biol. 2015. DOI: 10.1039/C5IB00080G. *Co-corresponding senior authors.
  • Wang N., "Stem cell mechanics: Auxetic nuclei," Nature Materials. 13(6):540-2 (2014). doi: 10.1038/nmat3987. PMID: 24845989.
  • Wang N., "Stem cells go soft: pliant substrate surfaces enhance motor neuron differentiation," Cell Stem Cell. 14: 701–703 (2014). doi:10.1016/j.stem.2014.05.007 PMID: 24905160. PMCID: PMC4109975.
  • Ingber, D.E., N. Wang, and D. Stamenovic, "Tensegrity, cellular biophysics, and the mechanics of living systems," Reports on Progress in Physics. 77 (2014) 046603. PMID:24695087.
  • Barry, A.B., H. Tabdili, I. Muhamed, J. Wu, N. Shashikanth, G.A. Gomez, A.S. Yap, C.J. Gottardi, J. de Rooij, N. Wang, and D.E. Leckband, "α-Catenin cytomechanics: role in cadherin-dependent adhesion and mechanotransduction," Journal of Cell Science; Feb 12, 2014. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 2452218.
  • Seong, J., A. Tajik, J. Sun, J.L Guan, M.J. Humphries, S.E. Craig, A. Shekaran, A.J. García, S. Lu, M.Z. Lin, N.* Wang, and Y.* Wang. "Distinct Biophysical Mechanisms of FAK Activation by Different Extracellular Matrix Proteins," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 110:19372-7, 2013. PMID: 24222685. PMC3845171. *Co-corresponding senior authors.
  • Seong, J., N. Wang, and Y. Wang, "Mechanotransduction at Focal Adhesions: from Physiology to Cancer Development," Journal of Cell Molecular Medicine May; 17(5):597-604, 2013. PMID:23601032. PMC3665742.
  • Tabdili, H., M. D. Langer, Q. Shi, Y. C. Poh, N. Wang, and D. Leckband, "Cadherin-Dependent Mechanotransduction Depends on Ligand Identity but not Affinity," J Cell Sci. 2012 Jun 20. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 22718345.
  • Twiss, F., Q. le Duc, S. van der Horst, H. Tabdili, G. van der Krogt, N. Wang, H. Rehmann, S. Huveneers, D. Leckband, and J. De Rooij, "Vinculin-dependent Cadherin mechanosensing regulates efficient epithelial barrier formation," Biology Open. 1(11):1128-40 (2012). PMID: 23213393. PMC3507192.
  • Minary-Jolandan, M., A. Tajik, N. Wang, and M. F. Yu, "Intrinsically High-Q Dynamic AFM Imaging in Liquid with a Significantly Extended Needle Tip," Nanotechnology 23:235704, 2012. PMID: 22595833 NIHMS379051.
  • Uda, Y., Y. C. Poh, F. Chowdhury, D. C. Wu, T. S. Tanaka, M. Sato, and N. Wang*, "Force via Integrins but not E-cadherin Decreases Oct3/4 Expression in Embryonic Stem Cells," Biochem Biophys Research Commun, Nov 18;415(2):396-400, 2011. PMID: 22037576. PMC3221912. *Corresponding author.
  • le Duc, Q., Q. Shi, I. Blonk, A. Sonnenberg, N. Wang*, D. Leckband*, and J. de Rooij*, "Vinculin Potentiates E-cadherin Mechanosensing and is Recruited to Actin-anchored Sites within Adherens Junctions in a MyosinII Dependent Manner," J Cell Biol., 189:1107-1115, June 28, 2010. (This paper is commented and highlighted by M. Smutny, AS Yap. Neighborly relations: cadherins and mechanotransduction. J Cell Biol.189:1075-1077, 2010. Published June 28, 2010) *Co-Corresponding senior authors.
  • Stamenović, D. and N. Wang, "Stress Transmission within the Cell," Comprehensive Physiology, Volume 1, Issue 1, January 2011. 10.1002/cphy.c100019.
  • Leckband, D.E., Q. le Duc, N. Wang, J. de Rooij, "Mechanotransduction at Cadherin-mediated Adhesions," Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. Oct; 23(5):523-30, 2011. Epub 2011 Sep 2. PMID: 21890337.
  • Wang, N., "Structural Basis of Stress Concentration in the Cytoskeleton," Molecular Cell Biomechanics, 7:33-44, 2010. PMID: 20806722.
  • Yum, K., N. Wang*, and M. F. Yu*, "Electrochemically-controlled Deconjugation and Delivery Single Quantum Dots into the Nucleus of Living Cells," Small,6(19):2109-13, 2010. *Co-Corresponding senior authors.
  • Chowdhury F., Y. Li, Y.C. Poh, T. Tamaki, N. Wang*, and T. S. Tanaka*, "Soft Substrates Promote Homogeneous Self-renewal of Embryonic Stem Cells via Downregulating Cell-matrix Tractions," PLoS ONE, 5(12): e15655, 2010. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0015655. PMID: 21179449. PMC3001487. *Co-corresponding senior authors.
  • Poh, Y.C., F. Chowdhury, T. S. Tanaka, and N. Wang*, "Embryonic Stem Cells do not Stiffen on Rigid Substrates," Biophys. J. 99:L01-L03, 2010. PMID: 20643049. *Corresponding author.
  • Wang N, Tytell JD, Ingber DE. Mechanotransduction at a distance: mechanically coupling the extracellular matrix with the nucleus. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 10: 75-82, 2009. PubMed PMID: 19197334. DOI: 10.1038/nrm2594.
  • Poh, Y. C., S. Na, F. Chowdhury, M. Ouyoung, Y. Wang, and N. Wang*, "Rapid Activation of Rac GTPase in Living Cells by Force is Independent of Src," PLoS ONE, 4(11):e7886, Nov 18, 2009. PMID: 19924282. *Corresponding author.
  • Wang Y*, Wang N*. FRET and Mechanobiology. Integrative Biol 1:565-573, 2009. PubMed PMID: 20016756. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2794131. *Co-corresponding authors.
  • Kasza K. E., F. Nakamura, S. Hu, P. Kollmannsberger, B. Fabry, T. P. Stossel, N. Wang, and D. A. Weitz, “Filamin A is Essential for Active Cell Stiffening But Not Passive Stiffening under External Force,” Biophys. J., 96(10):4326-35, May 20, 2009. PMID: 19450503.
  • Na, S., F. Chowdhury, B. Tay, M. Ouyang, M. Gregor, Y. Wang, G. Wiche, and N. Wang*, “Plectin Contributes to Mechanical Properties of Living Cells,” Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 296(4): C868-77, 2009. Feb 25, 2009. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 19244477. *Corresponding author.
  • Yum, K., S. Na, K. Xiang, N. Wang, and M. F. Yu, "Mechanochemical Delivery and Dynamic Tracking of Single Fluorescent Quantum Dots in Living Cells," Nano Letters, 9(5):2193-8, May 2009. PMID: 19366190.
  • Kim, T. J., J. Seong, M. Ouyang, J. Sun, S. Lu, J. P. Hong, N. Wang, and Y. Wang, “Substrate Rigidity Regulates Ca(2+) Oscillation via RhoA Pathway In Stem Cells,” J Cell Physiol, 218, 285-293, 2009. PMID: 1884423.
  • Na, S. and N. Wang*, “Application of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer and Magnetic Twisting Cyometry to Quantify Mechano-Chemical Signaling Activities in a Living Cell,” Science Signaling, 1, 11, 2008 (Cover highlight). *Corresponding author.
  • Chowdhury F., S. Na, O. Collin, B. Tay, F. Li, T. Tanaka, D.E. Leckband, and N. Wang*, “Is cell rheology governed by nonequilibrium to equilibrium transition of noncovalent bonds?,” Biophysical Journal 95, 719-27, 2008. Epub 2008 Oct 3. PMID: 18835892. *Corresponding author.
  • Collin, O., S. Na, F. Chowdhury, M. Hong, M. Shin, F. Wang, and N. Wang*, “Self-organized Podosomes are Dynamic Mechanosensors," Current Biology, 8, 1288-1294, 2008. *Corresponding author.
  • Stamenovic, D., N. Rosenblatt, M. Montoya-Zavala, M. D. Matthews, S. Hu, B. Suki, N. Wang, and D. E. Ingber, “Rheological Behavior of Living Cells is Timescale Dependent,” Biophysical Journal, 93, L39-L41, 2007.
  • Rosenblatt, N., S. Hu, B. Suki, N. Wang, and D. Stamenovic, ”Contributions of the Active and Passive Components of the Cytoskeletal Prestress to Stiffening of Airway Smooth Muscle Cells,” Annual Biomedical Engineering, 35, 224-34, 2007.
  • Bursac, P., B. Fabry, X. Trepat, G. Lenormand, J. P. Butler, N. Wang, J. J. Fredberg, and S. S. An, “Cytoskeleton dynamics: Fluctuations within the Network,” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communication, 355, 324-330, 2007.
  • Hu, S. and N. Wang*, “Control of Stress Propagation in the Cytoplasm by Prestress and Loading Frequency,” Molecular Cell Biomechanics, 3, 49-60, 2006. *Corresponding author.
  • An, S. S., B. Fabry, X. Trepat, N. Wang, and J. J. Fredberg, “Do Biophysical Properties of the Airway Smooth Muscle Cell in Culture Predict Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Vivo?” American Journal of Physiology Lung Cellular Molecular Physiology, 35, 55-64, 2006.
  • Hu, S., J. Chen, J. P. Butler, and N. Wang*, “Prestress Mediates Force Propagation into the Nucleus,” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 329, 423-428, 2005. *Corresponding author.
  • Wang, N*. and Z. Suo, “Long-distance Propagation of Forces in a Cell,” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 328, 1133-1138, 2005. *Corresponding author.
  • Tolić-Norrelykke, I. M. and N. Wang*, “Traction in Smooth Muscle Cells Varies with Cell Spreading,” Journal of Biomechanics, 38, 1405-1412, 2005. *Corresponding author.
  • An, S. S., C. M. Pennella, A. Gonnabathula, J. Chen, N. Wang, M. Gaestel, P. M. Hassoun, J. J. Fredberg, and U. S. Kayyali, “Hypoxia Alters Distinct Biomechanical Properties of Endothelial Cells Via p38 MAPK and Rho Kinase-dependent Pathways,” American Journal of Physiology Cell Physiology, 289, C521-C530, 2005.
  • Hu, S., J. Chen, and N. Wang*, “Cell Spreading Controls Balance of Prestress by Microtubules and Extracellular Matrix,” Frontiers in Bioscience, 9, 2177-2182, 2004. *Corresponding author.
  • Polte, T. R., G. S. Eichler, N. Wang, and D. E. Ingber, “Extracellular Matrix Controls Myosin Light Chain Phosphorylation and Cell Contractility Through Modulation of Cell Shape and Cytoskeletal Prestress,” American Journal of Physiology Cell, 286, C518-28, 2004.
  • Moy, A. B., K. Blackwell, N. Wang, K. Haxhinasto, M. K. Kasiske, D. M. Shasby, J. Bodmer, G. Reyes, and A. English, “Phorbol Ester-mediated Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction Through Regulation of Actin Cytoskeletal Mechanics,” American Journal of Physiology Lung Cellular Molecular Physiology, 287, L153-L167, 2004.
  • Pui-de-Morales, M., E. Millet, B. Fabry, D. Navajas, N. Wang, J. P. Butler, and J. J. Fredberg, ”Cytoskeletal Mechanics in the Adherent Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cell: Probe Specificity and Scaling of Protein-Protein Dynamics,” American Journal of Physiology Cell Physiology, 287, C643-C654, 2004.
  • Stamenović, D., B. Suki, B. Fabry, N. Wang, J. J. Fredberg, and J. E. Buy, “Rheology of Airway Smooth Muscle Cells is Associated with Cytoskeletal Contractile Stress,” Journal of Applied Physiology, 96, 1600-1605, 2004.
  • Rosenblatt, N., S. Hu, J. Chen, N. Wang, and D. Stamenovi, “Distending Stress of the Cytoskeleton is a Key Determinant of Cell Rheological Behavior,” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 321, 617-622, 2004.
  • Numaguchi, Y., S. Huang, T. R. Polte, G. S. Eichler, N. Wang, and D. E. Ingber, ”Caldesmon-dependent Switching Between Capillary Endothelial Cell Growth and Apoptosis Through Modulation of Cell Shape and Contractility,” Angiogenesis, 6, 55-64, 2003.
  • Wang, N*., E. Ostuni, G. M. Whitesides, and D. E. Ingber, “Micropatterning Tracitonal Forces in Living Cells,” Cell Motility Cytoskeleton, 52, 97-106, 2002. *Corresponding author.
  • Wang, N*. and D. Stamenvoic, “Mechanics of Vimentin Intermediate Filaments,” Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility, 23, 535-540, 2002. *Corresponding author.
  • Parker, K. K., A. L. Brock, C. Brangwynne, R. Mannix, N. Wang, E. Ostuni, N. A. Geisse, J. C. Adams, G. M. Whiteside, and D. E. Ingber, “Directional Control of Lamellipodia Extension by Constraining Cell Shape and Orienting Cell Tractional Forces,” Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 16, 1195-1204, 2002.
  • Stamenović, D., S. M. Mijailovich, I. M. Tolić-Norrelykke, J. Chen, and N. Wang, “Cell Prestress. II. Contribution of Microtubules,” American Journal of Physiology Cell, 282, C617-C624, 2002.
  • Tolić-Nørrelykke, I.M., J. P. Butler, J. Chen, and N. Wang*, “Spatial and Temporal Traction Response in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells,” Am. J. Physiol. Cell., 283, C1254-C1266, 2002. *Corresponding author.
  • Stamenović, D., Z. Liang, J. Chen, and N. Wang, “The Effect of the Cytoskeletal Prestress on the Mechanical Impedance of Cultured Airway Smooth Muscle Cells,” Journal of Applied Physiology, 92, 1443-1450, 2002.
  • Stamenović, D., S. M. Mijailovich, I. M. Toli_-Norrelykke, and N. Wang, “Experimental Tests of the Cellular Tensegrity Hypothesis,” Biorheology, 40, 221-225, 2002.
  • Wang, N., “Mechanical Interactions Among Cytoskeletal Filaments,” Hypertension, 32, 162-165, 1998.
  • Wang, N*. and D. Stamenović, “Contribution of Intermediate Filaments to Cell Stiffness, Stiffening, and Growth,” American Journal of Physiology Cell, 279, C188-C194, 2000. *Corresponding author.
  • Goldmann, W. H., R. Glaneder, M. Ludwig, W. Xu, E. Adamson, N. Wang, and R. M. Ezzell, “Differences in Elasticity of Vinculin-deficient F9 Cells Measured by Magnetometry and Atomic Force Microscopy,” Experimental Cell Research, 239, 235-242, 1998.
  • Pourati, J., A. Maniotis, D. Spiegel, J. L. Schaffer, J. P. Butler, J. J. Fredberg, D. E. Ingber, D. Stamenović, and N. Wang*, “Is Cytoskeletal Tension a Major Determinant of Cell Deformability in Adherent Endothelial Cells?” American Journal of Physiology Cell, 274, C1283-C1289, 1998. *Corresponding author.
  • Cai, S., L. Pestic-Dragovich, M. E. O’Donnell, N. Wang, D. Ingber, E. Elson, and P. de Lanerolle, “Regulation of Cytoskeletal Mechanics and Cell Growth by Myosin Light Chain Phosphorylation,” American Journal Physiology Cell, 275, C1349-C1356, 1998.
  • Lee, K.-M., K. Y. Tsai, N. Wang, and D. E. Ingber, “Extracellular Matrix and Pulmonary Hypertension: Control of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Contratcility,” American Journal of Physiology Heart Circulatory Physiology, 274, H76-H82, 1998.
  • Eckes, B., D. Dogic, E. Colucci-Guyon, N. Wang, A. Maniotis, D. Ingber, A. Merckling, F. Langa, M. Aumailley, A. Delouvee, V. Koteliansky, C. Babinet, and T. Krieg, “Impaired Mechanical Stability, Migration, and Contractile Capacity in Vimentin-deficient Fibroblasts,” Journal of Cell Science, 111, 1897-1907, 1998.
  • Tagawa, H., N. Wang, T. Narishige, D. E. Ingber, M. Zile, and G. Cooper, “Cytoskeletal Mechanics in Pressure Overload Cardiac Hypertrophy,” Circulation Research, 80, 281-289, 1997.
  • Potard, U. S. B., J. P. Butler, and N. Wang*, “Cytoskeletal Mechanics in Confluent Epithelial Cells Probed Through Integrins and E-cadherins,” American Journal of Physiology Cell Physiology, 272, C1654-C1663, 1997. *Corresponding author.
  • Yoshida, M., W. F. Westlin, N. Wang, D. E. Ingber, A. Rosenzweig, N. Resnick, and M. A. Gimbrone, Jr., “Leukocyte Adhesion to Vascular Endothelium Induces E-selectin Association with the Actin-cytoskeleton,” Journal of Cell Biology, 133, 445-455, 1996.
  • Ezzell, R. M., W. H. Goldman, N. Wang, N. Parasharama, and D. E. Ingber, “Vinculin is Required for Cell Spreading and Transmembrane Mechanical Coupling of Integrins to the Cytoskeleton,” Experimental Cell Research, 231, 14-26, 1997.
  • Planus, E., G. Barlovatz-Meimon, R. A. Rogers, S. Bonavaud, D. E. Ingber, and N. Wang, “Binding of Urokinase to Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type-1 Mediates Cell Adhesion and Spreading, “ Journal of Cell Science, 110, 1091-1098, 1997.
  • Stamenović, D., J. J. Fredberg, N. Wang, P. Butler, and D. E. Ingber, ”A Microstructural Approach to Cytoskeletal Mechanics,” Journal of Theoretical Biology, 1181, 125-136, 1996.
  • Hubmayr, R. D., S. Shore, J. J. Fredberg, E. Planus, R. A. Panettieri, Jr., W. Moller, J. Heyder, and N. Wang, “Pharmacologic Activation Changes Stiffness of Cultured Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells,” American Journal of Physiology Cell, 271, C1660-C1668, 1996.
  • Wang, N. and D. E. Ingber, Probing Transmembrane Mechanical Coupling and Cytomechanics Using Magnetic Twisting Cytometry,, Biochemistry Cell Biology, 73, 327-335, 1995.
  • Wang, N*., E. Planus, M. Pouchelet, J. J. Fredberg, and G. Barlovatz-Meimon, ”Urokinase Receptor Mediates Mechanical Force Transfer Across the Cell Surface,” American Journal of Physiology Cell Physiology, 268, C1062-C1066, 1995. *Corresponding author.
  • Ingber, D. E., D. Prusty, Z. Sun, H. Betensky, and N. Wang, ”Cell Shape, Cytoskeletal Mechanics, and Cell Cycle Control in Angiogenesis,” Journal of Biomechanics, 28, 1471-1484, 1995.
  • Brown, R. E., C. E. Kovacs, J. P. Butler, N. Wang, J. L. Lehr, and R. B. Banzett, “The Avian Lung: Is There an Aerodynamic Expiratory Valve?” Journal of Experimental Biology, 198, 2349-2357, 1995.
  • Wang, N. and D. E. Ingber, “Control of Cytoskeletal Mechanics by Extracellular Matrix, Cell Shape, and Mechanical Tension,” Biophysical Journal, 66, 1281-1289, 1994.
  • Wang, N., R. B. Banzett, C. S. Nations, and F. A. Jenkins, Jr., “An Aerodynamic Valve in the Avian Primary Bronchus,” Journal of Experimental Zoology, 262, 441-445, 1992.
  • Banzett, R. B., C. S. Nations, N. Wang, J. P. Butler, and J. L. Lehr, “Mechanical Independence of Wingbeat and Breathing in Starlings,” Respiration Physiology, 89, 27-36, 1992.
  • Banzett, R. B., C. S. Nations, N. Wang, J. J. Fredberg, and J. P. Butler, “Pressure Profiles Show Features Essential to Aerodynamic Valving in Geese,” Respiration Physiology, 84, 295-309, 1991.
  • Wang, N., J. P. Butler, and R. B. Banzett, Gas Exchange Across Avian Egg Shells Oscillates in Phase with Heartbeat, Journal of Applied Physiology, 69, 1549-1552, 1990.
  • Wang, N., R. B. Banzett, J. P. Butler, and J. J. Fredberg, Bird Lung Models Show that Connective Inertia Effects Inspiratory Aerodynamic Valving. Respiration Physiology, 73, 111-124, 1988.

Teaching Honors

  • List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent By Their Students (Spring 2021)

Recent Courses Taught

  • ME 330 AL2 - Engineering Materials
  • ME 483 - Mechanobiology
  • TAM 461 (BIOE 461) - Cellular Biomechanics

Related News