Research
Bioengineering, Wound Healing, Multiscale Biomechanics, Computational Modeling, Biomaterials, Bioinspired Design
Underpinning Bioengineering, Skin Models
Interests
Computational modeling of spatial patterning in biological systems to rationalize the contribution of microstructural constituents towards cell- and tissue-scale load bearing.
Recent work focused on simulations of new tissue formation and remodeling in wound healing, as well as self-organization in cytoskeletal systems such as F-actin and intermediate filament networks.
Publications

Publications of specific relevance to Predictive <em>in vitro</em> Models
2023
Nonaffine Mechanics of Entangled Networks Inspired by Intermediate FilamentsPensalfini M, Golde T, Trepat X and Arroyo M
Physical Review Letters,
American Physical Society (Aps) vol. 131 (5)
04-08-2023
Mechano-biological and bio-mechanical pathways in cutaneous wound healingPensalfini M and Tepole AB
Plos Computational Biology,
Public Library of Science (Plos) vol. 19 (3)
09-03-20232020
How cosmetic tightening products modulate the biomechanics and morphology of human skinPensalfini M, Rotach M, Hopf R, Bielicki A, Santoprete R and Mazza E
Acta Biomaterialia,
Elsevier vol. 115, 299-316.
25-08-2020
Activin-mediated alterations of the fibroblast transcriptome and matrisome control the biomechanical properties of skin woundsWietecha MS,
Pensalfini M, Cangkrama M, Müller B, Jin J, Brinckmann J, Mazza E and Werner S
Nature Communications,
Springer Nature vol. 11 (1)
25-05-20202019
On the compressibility and poroelasticity of human and murine skinWahlsten A,
Pensalfini M, Stracuzzi A, Restivo G, Hopf R and Mazza E
Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology,
Springer Nature vol. 18 (4), 1079-1093.
26-02-2019
Tear resistance of soft collagenous tissuesBircher K, Zündel M,
Pensalfini M, Ehret AE and Mazza E
Nature Communications,
Springer Nature vol. 10 (1)
15-02-20192018
Development of a Novel Human Cell-Derived Tissue-Engineered Heart Valve for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: an In Vitro and In Vivo Feasibility StudyLintas 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
Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research,
Springer Nature vol. 11 (6), 470-482.
13-08-2018
A novel ultra-light suction device for mechanical characterization of skinMüller B, Elrod J,
Pensalfini M, Hopf R, Distler O, Schiestl C and Mazza E
Plos One,
Public Library of Science (Plos) vol. 13 (8)
08-08-20182017
Location-specific mechanical response and morphology of facial soft tissuesPensalfini M, Weickenmeier J, Rominger M, Santoprete R, Distler O and Mazza E
Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials,
Elsevier vol. 78, 108-115.
14-11-2017
The mechanical fingerprint of murine excisional woundsPensalfini M, Haertel E, Hopf R, Wietecha M, Werner S and Mazza E
Acta Biomaterialia,
Elsevier vol. 65, 226-236.
12-10-2017
The suture retention test, revisited and revisedPensalfini M, Meneghello S, Lintas V, Bircher K, Ehret AE and Mazza E
Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials,
Elsevier vol. 77, 711-717.
24-08-20172016
Factors affecting the mechanical behavior of collagen hydrogels for skin tissue engineeringPensalfini M, Ehret AE, Stüdeli S, Marino D, Kaech A, Reichmann E and Mazza E
Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials,
Elsevier vol. 69, 85-97.
09-12-2016
Guidelines for standardization of bioprinting: a systematic study of process parameters and their effect on bioprinted structuresKesti M, Fisch P,
Pensalfini M, Mazza E and Zenobi-Wong M
Bionanomaterials,
De Gruyter vol. 17 (3-4), 193-204.
19-05-20162015
Challenging the in-vivo assessment of biomechanical properties of the uterine cervix: A critical analysis of ultrasound based quasi-static proceduresMaurer MM, Badir S,
Pensalfini M, Bajka M, Abitabile P, Zimmermann R and Mazza E
Journal of Biomechanics,
Elsevier vol. 48 (9), 1541-1548.
26-02-20152014
Evaluation of Global Load Sharing and Shear-Lag Models to Describe Mechanical Behavior in Partially Lacerated TendonsPensalfini M, Duenwald-Kuehl S, Kondratko-Mittnacht J, Lakes R and Vanderby R
Journal of Biomechanical Engineering,
Asme International vol. 136 (9)
15-07-2014