Salvatore Di Stefano

We develop models for cell-matrix decohesion and the mechanics of focal adhesion, an example of integrin mediated structures that oversee and guide the mutual interactions between cells and the extra-cellular substratum. We use multi-scale models and homogenization techniques to analyze structural information available at different length scales (form micro to mesoscale) and obtain effective coefficients encoding the intrinsic heterogeneous properties of such systems.