Overview

• Experiments show that fluid flow between cells dictates tissue compliance and relaxation under compression.
• Observations across various tissue types revealed that larger clusters take longer to relax, confirming the dominance of interstitial fluid movement.
• These findings overturn the long-held view that a tissue’s mechanical response is governed primarily by its internal cellular architecture.
• The insights could guide the design of artificial tissues and targeted therapies by manipulating intercellular fluid pathways for enhanced resilience and delivery.
• The team will next explore how modulating fluid dynamics between cells affects brain function in Alzheimer’s disease.