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Dr Marc Fernandez-Yague

Marc

Lecturer in Chemistry

Email: m.fernandez-yague@qmul.ac.uk
Room Number: Joseph Priestley Building, Room G.08
Website: www.marcfernandezyague.com

Profile

During my doctoral studies at University of Galway (Ireland), I explored the concept of bioelectric signaling as central to the regulation of cell differentiation. I demonstrated that cell function and tissue repair processes could be controlled by biomaterials interactions. My research attracted considerable attention from both the media and medical community, resulting in a patent (EP20152766.0) and funding for the development, production, and commercialization of a medical device for repairing rotator cuff tendon tears.

To gain further expertise in the areas of cell-matrix interactions and immune responses, I pursued postdoctoral studies with Andrés García at the Georgia Institute of Technology (USA) and Arancha del Campo at the Institute for New Materials (Germany) under a Global MSCA Fellowship (PI: Fernández-Yagüe). I focused in developing biomimetic platforms and molecular tools, i) to investigate how mechanical forces are integrated into signaling at individual adhesion complexes and ii) engineer immune responses to biomaterials for regenerative medicine and immunomodulation applications.

ACADEMIC TRAJECTORY:

  • Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London, 2023 
  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Institute for New Materials (Saarbrucken, Germany) 2022-2023
  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience - GeorgiaTech (Atlanta, US) 2019-2022
  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering & Research Associate, Centre for Medical Devices - University of Galway (Galway, Ireland), 2014-2019
  • BSc & MSc (1st) in Materials Science & Research Engineer, BarcelonaTech (Barcelona, Spain), 2006-2014

SELECTED AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS

  • Rising Star in Engineering in Health, 2022
  • NextProf Nexus, 2022
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Global Fellowship, 2021-2023
  • Julia Polak Award, 2021   

And other prestigious recognitions...

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

Investigated the immunomodulatory potential of cell-adhesive hydrogels for enhanced tissue healing.

Using biomimetic 3D models, I Investigated how mechanosensitive proteins affect cell migration and tissue repair processes.

Introduced an innovative regenerative bioelectric therapy for tendons, which has set a benchmark in tissue remodeling and scar tissue prevention.

An many more to come….

Teaching

CHE600/601

SEF004

 

Research

Research Interests:

Within our bodies, cellular interactions maintain a delicate equilibrium, ensuring health and functionality and any disruptions in this balance can lead to conditions like cancer or fibrosis. My research aims to understand the physical principles behind these cellular interactions, focusing on cellular communication and response to biophysical cues. By bridging the worlds of mechanobiology, cell engineering, and materials science, I aim to create synthetic materials that can steer cellular behavior, potentially revolutionizing regenerative medicine and offering fresh solutions to age-old medical challenges.

At Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) I lead the CREATION “Cellular REprogrAmming Through BIomaterials InteractiONs” research group, where we channel our passion into the cutting-edge development and synthesis of “bioprogramming” materials. A significant portion of our work is dedicated to optimizing mechanochemical tools and cell signaling. Our objective is twofold:

Understand the molecular translation of biophysical cues into cellular functions within living tissues.

Develop therapeutic technologies for in situ musculoskeletal soft-tissue regeneration that are reliable, safer, and cost-effective.

Our vision is to shift the paradigm, moving from understanding cell mechanics to harnessing this knowledge in addressing real-world health challenges. From understanding to action, from knowledge to healing.

Research Interests:

Engineering Immunity: I focus on the inflammatory responses to biomaterials, crafting strategies to guide the immune response.

Mechanochemical Cell Biology: I design platforms to grasp the nuances of how cells interact and communicate within their environments.

Regenerative Electroceuticals: By understanding bioelectric signaling in cellular processes, I am pioneering groundbreaking regenerative therapies.

Implant Biointegration: I formulate easy, cost-effective and reliable strategies for superior implant-tissue integration, addressing the issues of post-implantation instability.

Publications

SELECTED ARTICLES

(*: equal contribution; #: corresponding author)

  1. Fernández-Yagüe MA*, Hymel LA*, Olingy CE*, McClain C, Ogle ME, R. García J, Minshew D, Vyshnya S, Seo Lim, Peng Qiu H, García AJ, and Botchwey EA#. Analyzing Immune Response to Engineered Hydrogels by Hierarchical Clustering of Inflammatory Cell Subsets. Sci. Adv.8, eabd8056 (2022)
  2. Fernández-Yagüe MA#, Trotier A, Demir S, Akogwu Abbah S, Larrañaga A, Thirumaran A, Stapleton A, Tofail S.A.M, Palma M, Kilcoyne M, Pandit A, Biggs MJP#. A self-powered piezo-bioelectric device regulates tendon repair-associated signalling pathways through modulation of mechanosensitive ion channels. Adv. Mater. 33, 2008788 (2021). Highlighted as Front Cover in Advanced Materials.
  3. Fernández-Yagüe MA*, Zhou D*, Holland E, García A, Castro N, O’Neill E, Eyckmans J, Chen C, Fu J, Schlaepfer D.D, García AJ#. Force-FAK Signaling Coupling at Individual Focal Adhesions Coordinates Mechanosensing and Microtissue Repair . Nat Commun 12(1) (2021). (IF=14.9). Highlighted in the 50 best papers in the Focus area of 'Structural biology, biochemistry and biophysics' by Nature Communications.
  4. Fernández-Yagüe MA, Perez RA, Biggs MJP, Gil FJ, Pegueroles M#.Enhanced osteoconductivity on electrically charged Ti c.p implants treated by physicochemical surface modifications methods. Nanomedicine Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 18, 1549-9634,1-10 (2018).
  5. Fernández-Yagüe MA*, Mestres G*, Pastorino D, Montufar E, Manzanares C, Ginebra M.P#. In vivo comparative study of the anti-inflammatory effects of CPC foam with drug delivery and Mg CPC. Materials Science and Engineering: C , 97,84-95,0928-4931 (2019).

And more…

  • Fernandez‐Yague MA, Palma M, Tofail SAM et al. (2024). A Tympanic Piezo‐Bioreactor Modulates Ion Channel‐Associated Mechanosignaling to Stabilize Phenotype and Promote Tenogenesis in Human Tendon‐Derived Cells.. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Holland EN, Fernández-Yagüe MA, Zhou DW et al. (2024). FAK, vinculin, and talin control mechanosensitive YAP nuclear localization. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Colasurdo M, Nieves EB, Fernández-Yagüe MA et al. (2022). Adhesive peptide and polymer density modulate 3D cell traction forces within synthetic hydrogels. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fernandez-Yague MA, Trotier A, Demir S et al. (2022). A Self‐Powered Piezo‐Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair‐Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fernandez-Yague MA, Hymel LA, Olingy CE et al. (2022). Analyzing immune response to engineered hydrogels by hierarchical clustering of inflammatory cell subsets. nameOfConference


  • Fernandez‐Yague MA, Trotier A, Demir S et al. (2021). A Self‐Powered Piezo‐Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair‐Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels (Adv. Mater. 40/2021). nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fernandez‐Yague MA, Trotier A, Demir S et al. (2021). A Self‐Powered Piezo‐Bioelectric Device Regulates Tendon Repair‐Associated Signaling Pathways through Modulation of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels. nameOfConference


  • Zhou DW, Fernández-Yagüe MA, Holland EN et al. (publicationYear). Force-FAK signaling coupling at individual focal adhesions coordinates mechanosensing and microtissue repair. nameOfConference


  • Tadayyon G, Krukiewicz K, Britton J et al. (2021). In vitro analysis of a physiological strain sensor formulated from a PEDOT:PSS functionalized carbon nanotube-poly(glycerol sebacate urethane) composite. nameOfConference


  • Orapiriyakul W, Tsimbouri MP, Childs P et al. (2020). Nanovibrational Stimulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induces Therapeutic Reactive Oxygen Species and Inflammation for Three-Dimensional Bone Tissue Engineering.. nameOfConference


  • Medina JD, Alexander M, Hunckler MD et al. (2020). Pancreatic Islets: Functionalization of Alginate with Extracellular Matrix Peptides Enhances Viability and Function of Encapsulated Porcine Islets (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 9/2020). nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Medina JD, Alexander M, Hunckler MD et al. (2020). Functionalization of Alginate with Extracellular Matrix Peptides Enhances Viability and Function of Encapsulated Porcine Islets. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Poudel A, Fernandez MA, Tofail SAM et al. (publicationYear). Boron Nitride Nanotube Addition Enhances the Crystallinity and Cytocompatibility of PVDF-TrFE. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fernández-Yagüe M, Antoñanzas RP, Roa JJ et al. (2019). Enhanced osteoconductivity on electrically charged titanium implants treated by physicochemical surface modifications methods. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Mestres G, Fernandez-Yague MA, Pastorino D et al. (2019). In vivo efficiency of antimicrobial inorganic bone grafts in osteomyelitis treatments. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Vallejo-Giraldo C, Krukiewicz K, Calaresu I et al. (2018). Attenuated Glial Reactivity on Topographically Functionalized Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene):P-Toluene Sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) Neuroelectrodes Fabricated by Microimprint Lithography.. nameOfConference


  • Larrañaga A, Isa ILM, Patil V et al. (2018). Antioxidant functionalized polymer capsules to prevent oxidative stress. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Schieber R, Lasserre F, Hans M et al. (2017). Direct Laser Interference Patterning of CoCr Alloy Surfaces to Control Endothelial Cell and Platelet Response for Cardiovascular Applications. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Larrañaga A, Pompanon F, Gruffat N et al. (2016). Effects of isothermal crystallization on the mechanical properties of a elastomeric medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Vallejo-Giraldo C, Pugliese E, Larraaga A et al. (2016). Polyhydroxyalkanoate/carbon nanotube nanocomposites: flexible electrically conducting elastomers for neural applications. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fernandez-Yague MA, Vallejo-Giraldo C, Aceret GO et al. (2016). Biological Activity on Piezoelectric PVDF. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fernandez-Yague MA, Larrañaga A, Gladkovskaya O et al. (2015). Effects of Polydopamine Functionalization on Boron Nitride Nanotube Dispersion and Cytocompatibility. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Martin-Gili D, Molmeneu M, Fernandez M et al. (2015). Determination of fluid leakages in the different screw-retained implant-abutment connections in a mechanical artificial mouth. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Albertini M, Fernandez-Yague M, Lázaro P et al. (2015). Advances in surfaces and osseointegration in implantology. Biomimetic surfaces. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Mokarian-Tabari P, Vallejo-Giraldo C, Fernandez-Yague M et al. (2015). Nanoscale neuroelectrode modification via sub-20 nm silicon nanowires through self-assembly of block copolymers. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fernandez-Yague MA, Abbah SA, McNamara L et al. (2015). Biomimetic approaches in bone tissue engineering: Integrating biological and physicomechanical strategies. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Fernández M, Delgado L, Molmeneu M et al. (2014). Analysis of the misfit of dental implant-supported prostheses made with three manufacturing processes. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
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