Dr Marc Fernandez-Yague
Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Chemistry
School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Mechanotransduction, Focal Adhesions, Mechanosensitive Ion Channels, Bioelectricity, Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials
Interests
My research aims to understand the physical principles behind cell-matrix interactions. By merging cell engineering techniques and materials science, I aim to create materials that can steer cellular function, offering new solutions to age-old medical challenges.At SPCS (QMUL) I lead the “Cellular reprogramming through mechanotransduction” research group, where significant portion of our work is dedicated to optimizing mechanochemical tools for:
1)Understanding how biophysical cues are sensed and integrated into cellular signaling within living tissues.
2)Developing therapeutic technologies for in-situ tissue regeneration that are reliable, safer, and cost-effective.
Research Interests:
a.Engineering Immunity: We focus on leveraging the inflammatory responses to biomaterials to engineer immunomodulatory strategies for tissue repair.
b.Mechanochemical Cell Biology: We design biomimetic platforms to understand how cells interact and communicate with their mechanochemical environments.
c.Regenerative Electroceuticals: Developing bioelectric devices for interfacing with cellular processes as regenerative medicine therapies.
d.Implant Biointegration: We formulate easy, cost-effective and reliable strategies for more efficient implant-tissue integration, addressing the issues of post-implantation instability.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Chemical Research2024
Fernandez‐Yague MA, Palma M, Tofail SAM, Duffy M, Quinlan LR, Dalby MJ, Pandit A and Biggs MJ (2024). A Tympanic Piezo‐Bioreactor Modulates Ion Channel‐Associated Mechanosignaling to Stabilize Phenotype and Promote Tenogenesis in Human Tendon‐Derived Cells. Advanced Science, Wiley 22-10-2024
Holland EN, Fernández-Yagüe MA, Zhou DW, O'Neill EB, Woodfolk AU, Mora-Boza A, Fu J, Schlaepfer DD and García AJ (2024). FAK, vinculin, and talin control mechanosensitive YAP nuclear localization. Biomaterials, Elsevier vol. 308 20-03-2024
2022
Colasurdo M, Nieves EB, Fernández-Yagüe MA, Franck C and García AJ (2022). Adhesive peptide and polymer density modulate 3D cell traction forces within synthetic hydrogels. Biomaterials, Elsevier vol. 288 11-08-2022
Fernandez-Yague MA, Trotier A, Demir S, Abbah SA, Larrañaga A, Thirumaran A, Stapleton A, Tofail SAM, Palma M, Kilcoyne M, Pandit A and Biggs MJ (2022). A Self‐Powered Piezo‐Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair‐Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels. Advanced Materials, Wiley vol. 34 (14) 01-04-2022
Fernandez-Yague MA, Hymel LA, Olingy CE, McClain C, Ogle ME, García JR, Minshew D, Vyshnya S, Lim HS, Qiu P, García AJ and Botchwey EA (2022). Analyzing immune response to engineered hydrogels by hierarchical clustering of inflammatory cell subsets. Science Advances, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) vol. 8 (8) 25-02-2022
2021
Fernandez‐Yague MA, Trotier A, Demir S, Abbah SA, Larrañaga A, Thirumaran A, Stapleton A, Tofail SAM, Palma M, Kilcoyne M, Pandit A and Biggs MJ (2021). A Self‐Powered Piezo‐Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair‐Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels (Adv. Mater. 40/2021). Advanced Materials, Wiley vol. 33 (40) 01-10-2021
Fernandez‐Yague MA, Trotier A, Demir S, Abbah SA, Larrañaga A, Thirumaran A, Stapleton A, Tofail SAM, Palma M, Kilcoyne M, Pandit A and Biggs MJ (2021). A Self‐Powered Piezo‐Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair‐Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels. Advanced Materials, Wiley vol. 33 (40) 23-08-2021
Zhou DW, Fernández-Yagüe MA, Holland EN, García AF, Castro NS, O’Neill EB, Eyckmans J, Chen CS, Fu J, Schlaepfer DD and García AJ (2021). Force-FAK signaling coupling at individual focal adhesions coordinates mechanosensing and microtissue repair. Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 12 (1) 21-04-2021
Tadayyon G, Krukiewicz K, Britton J, Larrañaga A, Vallejo-Giraldo C, Fernandez-Yague M, Guo Y, Orpella-Aceret G, Li L, Poudel A and Biggs MJP (2021). In vitro analysis of a physiological strain sensor formulated from a PEDOT:PSS functionalized carbon nanotube-poly(glycerol sebacate urethane) composite. Materials Science and Engineering C, Elsevier vol. 121 06-01-2021
2020
Orapiriyakul W, Tsimbouri MP, Childs P, Campsie P, Wells J, Fernandez-Yague MA, Burgess K, Tanner KE, Tassieri M, Meek D, Vassalli M, Biggs MJP, Salmeron-Sanchez M, Oreffo ROC, Reid S and Dalby MJ (2020). Nanovibrational Stimulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induces Therapeutic Reactive Oxygen Species and Inflammation for Three-Dimensional Bone Tissue Engineering. ACS Nano, American Chemical Society 23-07-2020
Medina JD, Alexander M, Hunckler MD, Fernández‐Yagüe MA, Coronel MM, Smink AM, Lakey JR, de Vos P and García AJ (2020). Pancreatic Islets: Functionalization of Alginate with Extracellular Matrix Peptides Enhances Viability and Function of Encapsulated Porcine Islets (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 9/2020). Advanced Healthcare Materials, Wiley vol. 9 (9) 01-05-2020
Medina JD, Alexander M, Hunckler MD, Fernández‐Yagüe MA, Coronel MM, Smink AM, Lakey JR, de Vos P and García AJ (2020). Functionalization of Alginate with Extracellular Matrix Peptides Enhances Viability and Function of Encapsulated Porcine Islets. Advanced Healthcare Materials, Wiley vol. 9 (9) 07-04-2020
2019
Poudel A, Fernandez MA, Tofail SAM and Biggs MJP (2019). Boron Nitride Nanotube Addition Enhances the Crystallinity and Cytocompatibility of PVDF-TrFE. Frontiers in Chemistry, Frontiers vol. 7 21-05-2019
Fernández-Yagüe M, Antoñanzas RP, Roa JJ, Biggs M, Gil FJ and Pegueroles M (2019). Enhanced osteoconductivity on electrically charged titanium implants treated by physicochemical surface modifications methods. Nanomedicine Nanotechnology Biology and Medicine, Elsevier vol. 18, 1-10. 26-02-2019
2018
Mestres G, Fernandez-Yague MA, Pastorino D, Montufar EB, Canal C, Manzanares-Céspedes MC and Ginebra MP (2018). In vivo efficiency of antimicrobial inorganic bone grafts in osteomyelitis treatments. Materials Science and Engineering C, Elsevier vol. 97, 84-95. 28-11-2018
Vallejo-Giraldo C, Krukiewicz K, Calaresu I, Zhu J, Palma M, Fernandez-Yague M, McDowell B, Peixoto N, Farid N, O'Connor G, Ballerini L, Pandit A and Biggs MJP (2018). Attenuated Glial Reactivity on Topographically Functionalized Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene):P-Toluene Sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) Neuroelectrodes Fabricated by Microimprint Lithography. Small vol. 14 (28), e1800863-e1800863. 01-07-2018
2017
Larrañaga A, Isa ILM, Patil V, Thamboo S, Lomora M, Fernández-Yague MA, Sarasua J-R, Palivan CG and Pandit A (2017). Antioxidant functionalized polymer capsules to prevent oxidative stress. Acta Biomaterialia, Elsevier vol. 67, 21-31. 16-12-2017
Schieber R, Lasserre F, Hans M, Fernández‐Yagüe M, Díaz‐Ricart M, Escolar G, Ginebra M, Mücklich F and Pegueroles M (2017). Direct Laser Interference Patterning of CoCr Alloy Surfaces to Control Endothelial Cell and Platelet Response for Cardiovascular Applications. Advanced Healthcare Materials, Wiley vol. 6 (19) 17-07-2017
2016
Larrañaga A, Pompanon F, Gruffat N, Palomares T, Alonso-Varona A, Varga AL, Fernandez-Yague MA, Biggs MJP and Sarasua JR (2016). Effects of isothermal crystallization on the mechanical properties of a elastomeric medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate. European Polymer Journal, Elsevier vol. 85, 401-410. 01-12-2016
Vallejo-Giraldo C, Pugliese E, Larraaga A, Fernandez-Yague MA, Britton JJ, Trotier A, Tadayyon G, Kelly A, Rago I, Sarasua J-R, Dowd E, Quinlan LR, Pandit A and Biggs MJ (2016). Polyhydroxyalkanoate/carbon nanotube nanocomposites: flexible electrically conducting elastomers for neural applications. Nanomedicine, Taylor & Francis vol. 11 (19), 2547-2563. 13-09-2016
Fernandez-Yague MA, Vallejo-Giraldo C, Aceret GO, Pandit A and Biggs MJ (2016). Biological Activity on Piezoelectric PVDF. Electrically Active Materials for Medical Devices 167-176. 08-08-2016
2015
Fernandez-Yague MA, Larrañaga A, Gladkovskaya O, Stanley A, Tadayyon G, Guo Y, Sarasua J-R, Tofail SAM, Zeugolis DI, Pandit A and Biggs MJ (2015). Effects of Polydopamine Functionalization on Boron Nitride Nanotube Dispersion and Cytocompatibility. Bioconjugate Chemistry, American Chemical Society (ACS) vol. 26 (10), 2025-2037. 15-09-2015
Martin-Gili D, Molmeneu M, Fernandez M, Punset M, Giner L, Armengou J and Gil FJ (2015). Determination of fluid leakages in the different screw-retained implant-abutment connections in a mechanical artificial mouth. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, Springer Nature vol. 26 (7) 01-07-2015
Mokarian-Tabari P, Vallejo-Giraldo C, Fernandez-Yague M, Cummins C, Morris MA and Biggs MJP (2015). Nanoscale neuroelectrode modification via sub-20 nm silicon nanowires through self-assembly of block copolymers. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, Springer Nature vol. 26 (2) 01-02-2015
Albertini M, Fernandez-Yague M, Lázaro P, Herrero-Climent M, Rios-Santos J-V, Bullon P and Gil F-J (2015). Advances in surfaces and osseointegration in implantology. Biomimetic surfaces. Medicina Oral Patología Oral y Cirugia Bucal, Medicina Oral, S.L. vol. 20 (3), e316-e325. 01-01-2015
2014
Fernandez-Yague MA, Abbah SA, McNamara L, Zeugolis DI, Pandit A and Biggs MJ (2014). Biomimetic approaches in bone tissue engineering: Integrating biological and physicomechanical strategies. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, Elsevier vol. 84, 1-29. 16-09-2014
2013
Fernández M, Delgado L, Molmeneu M, García D and Rodríguez D (2013). Analysis of the misfit of dental implant-supported prostheses made with three manufacturing processes. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, Elsevier vol. 111 (2), 116-123. 28-10-2013
Grants
Precision Mechano-Therapeutics With Light-Driven Molecular Nanomachines Against Progressive FibrosisMarc Antoni Fernandez-Yague
£19,926 Royal Society (01-10-2024 - 30-09-2025)