About
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Research Scientist
Biography
Dr. Mak's goal is to uncover the fundamental cell mechanics of cancer metastasis in order to provide insights towards novel anti-metastasis therapeutics. To achieve this, he is creating complementary experimental and computational platforms that can probe deeply into the multiscale mechanobiology of cancer cells. By exploring the biochemical and biomechanical signaling and feedback that regulate the mechanical state of cancer cells, such as their viscoelasticity and internal stresses, he will gain insights toward the factors and their mechanisms that lead to phenotypes that are conducive to invasive behavior. With his expertise in computational modeling of the mechanical properties of cells and developing experimental and microfluidic systems for studying cancer cell invasion dynamics, Dr. Mak seeks to overcome the hurdles of treating metastatic cancer.
Appointments
Biomedical Engineering
Research ScientistPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Neoplasm Metastasis
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Michael Mak's published research.
Barbara Ehrlich, PhD
Emma Kruglov
Erica Herzog, MD, PhD
Huanxing Sun, PhD
Publications
2024
Viscosity regulates cell spreading and cell‐extracellular matrix interactions
Xiao H, Gong X, Jordan S, Liang Z, Mak M. Viscosity regulates cell spreading and cell‐extracellular matrix interactions. The FEBS Journal 2024 PMID: 39529371, DOI: 10.1111/febs.17306.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsCell spreadingRho-associated protein kinase 1Actin-related protein 2/3Regulation of cell locomotionRegulation of ECM remodelingCollagen substrateRas-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1Cell-extracellular matrix interactionsECM remodelingCellular remodelingExtracellular matrixEnhanced cell spreadingProtein kinase 1Membrane rufflingCell locomotionRemodeling of extracellular matrixCellular forcesSubstrate 1Cell migrationCellular spreadingKinase 1Matrix interactionsRac1MicrotubulesRegulationOptimization of Vascularized Intestinal Organoid Model
Wen Z, Orduno M, Liang Z, Gong X, Mak M. Optimization of Vascularized Intestinal Organoid Model. Advanced Healthcare Materials 2024, e2400977. PMID: 39091070, DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400977.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricProtocol for isolating and identifying small extracellular vesicles derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells
Chen Y, Qian H, Mak M, Tao Z. Protocol for isolating and identifying small extracellular vesicles derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. STAR Protocols 2024, 5: 103197. PMID: 39028618, PMCID: PMC11315167, DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103197.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsSmall extracellular vesiclesUmbilical cord mesenchymal stem cellsHuman umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cellsIsolation of small extracellular vesiclesLipid bilayer-enclosed particlesExtracellular vesiclesMesenchymal stem cellsNanoparticle tracking analysisAtomic force microscopeStem cellsMolecular markersLiving cellsTransmission electron microscopyWestern blottingIsolatesVesiclesCellsForce microscopeProteolysis and Contractility Regulate Tissue Opening and Wound Healing by Lung Fibroblasts in 3D Microenvironments
Xiao H, Sylla K, Gong X, Wilkowski B, Rossello‐Martinez A, Jordan S, Mintah E, Zheng A, Sun H, Herzog E, Mak M. Proteolysis and Contractility Regulate Tissue Opening and Wound Healing by Lung Fibroblasts in 3D Microenvironments. Advanced Healthcare Materials 2024, e2400941. PMID: 38967294, DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400941.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricBiophysical and biochemical aspects of immune cell–tumor microenvironment interactions
Benmelech S, Le T, McKay M, Nam J, Subramaniam K, Tellez D, Vlasak G, Mak M. Biophysical and biochemical aspects of immune cell–tumor microenvironment interactions. APL Bioengineering 2024, 8: 021502. PMID: 38572312, PMCID: PMC10990568, DOI: 10.1063/5.0195244.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsTumor microenvironmentImprove CAR T cell therapyCAR-T cell therapyCD4+ T cellsCancer cellsAdaptive immune systemDistribution of cancer cellsCD8+T cellsImmunosuppressive responsePro-tumorImmune cellsMicroenvironment interactionsCell therapyExtracellular matrixCancer progressionImmune systemTumorCells-thatSpatial distribution of cancer cellsCancerCellsCD8CD4TherapyAdaptation to mechanical stresses drives an apoptosis-resistant and invasive phenotype in liver cells
Gong X, Ogino N, de Fátima Leite M, Chen Z, Nguyen R, Liu R, Kruglov E, Flores K, Cabral A, de M. Mendes G, Ehrlich B, Mak M. Adaptation to mechanical stresses drives an apoptosis-resistant and invasive phenotype in liver cells. Biophysical Journal 2024, 123: 177a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.11.1163.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Fiber alignment in 3D collagen networks as a biophysical marker for cell contractility
Böhringer D, Bauer A, Moravec I, Bischof L, Kah D, Mark C, Grundy T, Görlach E, O'Neill G, Budday S, Strissel P, Strick R, Malandrino A, Gerum R, Mak M, Rausch M, Fabry B. Fiber alignment in 3D collagen networks as a biophysical marker for cell contractility. Matrix Biology 2023, 124: 39-48. PMID: 37967726, PMCID: PMC10872942, DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.11.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCellular traction forcesTraction forceHepatic stellate cellsMatrix remodelingGlioblastoma cell linesFiber orientationCell contractilityDrug screening assaysLocal fiber orientationCell forcesRho-kinaseFiber alignmentStellate cellsCell linesScreening assayFiber networkCellsPython packageMechanical propertiesForce reconstructionBiopolymer matrixRemodelingInduced deformationQualitative proxyCollagen network
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