Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik
DY 49: Active Matter V (joint session DY/BP)
DY 49.6: Talk
Thursday, March 12, 2026, 11:15–11:30, ZEU/0160
Coupling intracellular processes and extracellular environment in a Cellular Potts model — •Cornelis Mense1,2, Falko Ziebert1,2, and Ulrich Schwarz1,2 — 1ITP, Heidelberg — 2BioQuant, Heidelberg
The Cellular Potts Model (CPM) is a computationally very efficient framework to study cell dynamics, wherein cells are simulated through Hamiltonian based update rules on a discretised lattice. The model has traditionally been used to predict cell migration and shape in scenarios such as immune response, morphogenesis, cancer, and wound healing. In contrast to e.g. active gel models, however, the CPM usually does not represent subcellular processes. Here, we propose an extension to the CPM by which cells can contract their bulk to both actively transport material and strain their substrate. This model allows us to represent feedback loops between intracellular processes, cell shape and the mechanical and geometrical properties of the extracellular environment. Migration can emerge both as internal symmetry break or as response to an external gradient. We apply it to some standard situations of experimental interest, in particular 3D-printed scaffolds for cell adhesion and migration.
Keywords: Cellular Potts model; Active gel; Migration; Morphogenesis