Delphine integrates approaches from engineering, physics and materials science to focus on mechanobiology and tribology of biomaterials. Together with key local and international collaborators, her group addresses a broad range of topics including the design of advanced biomaterials/biointerfaces for breast cancer mechanobiology research, and the design of biomimetics for lubrication purposes
In a first project, she works on material-based strategies to engineer in vitro 3D models to better understand breast cancer growth and metastasis. Specifically, her lab uses freezecasting techniques to generate a variety of 3D proteins platforms with tuneable architecture, conformation and mechanics that mimic tumorous microenvironments.
In a second project, she uses a unique tool called the Surface Forces Apparatus to characterize the lubrication of synovial fluid components to find cheap alternatives to synovial fluid for use in articular joints and prosthetic implants in vivo.
Her group is within the Center for the Cellular Microenvironment, a cross-college multidisciplinary initiative.
