Gianluca GRENCI
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore
Facility Manager, Nano and Microfabrication Core
mbigg@nus.edu.sg
Level 10 T-Lab
National University of Singapore
5A Engineering Drive 1
Singapore 117411
What mechanisms drive cytoskeleton extension within podosomes?
What mechanisms drive cytoskeleton extension within podosomes? Interactions between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell surface integrins leads to podosome formation. The initiating signal is transduced through mechanosensing integrins to the cytoskeleton, upon which [...]
What are stress fibers?
What are stress fibers? Stress fibers are higher order cytoskeletal structures composed of cross-linked actin filament bundles, and in many cases, myosin motor proteins, that span a length of 1-2 micrometers [1]. At least [...]
What is the function of stress fibers?
What is the function of stress fibers? Stress fibers are contractile in nature. By exerting and maintaining tension on the underlying substratum, they form a key element of the mechanotransduction apparatus that links the [...]
What is Myosin?
What is Myosin? An Introduction to the Myosin Superfamily of Proteins Myosin I has unique tail domain(s) relative to other myosin members which allows myosin I to bind to membrane lipids or to more [...]
How do motor proteins transport cargo along the cytoskeleton?
How do motor proteins transport cargo along the cytoskeleton? Along with providing structural support to the cell, and transmitting force signals, cytoskeletal filaments also provide cells with a network of ‘tracks’ that can be [...]
What are Motor Proteins?
What are Motor Proteins? Motor proteins, such as myosins and kinesins, move along cytoskeletal filaments via a force-dependent mechanism that is driven by the hydrolysis of ATP molecules (reviewed in [1]). Nucleotide hydrolysis and [...]
Gianluca Grenci
Research Assistant Professor, Facility Manager
Research Interests
Microfluidics, Micro-optical systems for live cell imaging
Our laboratory is primarily interested in the application of micro/nano fabrication technology to biological science. We exploit standard and advanced micro-fabrication tools in order to design and produce systems and devices for cell culturing and imaging. Examples of such devices are: topographically and/or chemically micro-textured environments, microfluidic devices, micro-optical systems and more.
We are also interested in developing microfluidic devices for FTIR spectromicroscopy of living cells. FTIR is an imaging technique that is intrinsically label-free and requires minimal sample preparation; when coupled with microscopy and high brilliance IR sources it allows the acquisition of chemical maps at a resolution which is diffraction limited. Absorption of IR photons induces very low or no damage at all, therefore it is in principle possible to observe for prolonged time the behaviour of living cells. Our research activity is intended to develope microfludic platforms suitable for FTIR (key parameters are optical transparency and low IR absorption) while keeping cells alive and healthy; a beneficial feature provided by micro-fabrication approach is the possibility to control of the chemical environment at the micro-scale.
Research Areas
Micro/nano engineering, microfluidic, FTIR
Biography
Dr Gianluca Grenci joined MBI in 2012 as a research fellow and head of the Micro Fabrication Core facility. Previously he was employed at the LILIT micro/nano fabrication group (IOM-CNR, Trieste, IT) for a total of 6 years, during which he was mainly involved in the design and fabrication of microfluidic devices for synchrotron-light related spectroscopic techniques, such as SAXS and FTIR. He thus developed extensive practical knowledge on all the major lithographic technologies (UV and EB lithography, wet/dry etching, soft-lithography, thin films deposition), plus some less usual and/or more advanced technique, such as X-ray Lithography and LIGA.
He did his PhD in the field of applied superconductivity, in a project aimed to develop a current cryo-comparator (CCC) using high critical temperature superconductors of the cuprate family (YBCO) in the form of a thick film deposited onto a large area, complex shaped silver substrate.
Education
PhD Polytechnic of Torino, DISPEA
Recent Publications
- Zhang Z, Canela A, Kurisu J, Zou P, Kawaue T, Nakazawa N, Takeda N, Saeki M, Utsunomiya M, Bilgic M, Ishidate F, Grenci G, Furuta T, Kishi Y, Sasanuma H, and Kengaku M. Confined migration induces non-lethal DNA damage in developing neurons. Nature 2026;. [PMID: 42310452]
- Gandin A, Torresan V, Panciera T, Grenci G, Vanni G, Citron A, Marchionni M, Battilana G, Pelosin M, Busetto R, Piccolo S, and Brusatin G. Flexible high-resolution ECM micropatterning. Nat Protoc 2026;. [PMID: 42129485]
- Dunsing-Eichenauer V, Hummert J, Chardès C, Schönau T, Guignard L, Galland R, Grenci G, Tillmann M, Koberling F, Nock C, Sibarita J, Viasnoff V, Antolovic IM, Erdmann R, and Lenne P. Fast volumetric fluorescence lifetime imaging of multicellular systems using single-objective light-sheet microscopy. Commun Biol 2025;. [PMID: 41315677]
- Jiang X, Xu P, Feng F, Grenci G, and Saw TB. Revealing Electromechanical Control of Tissue Homeostasis Using a Two-Layer Microfluidic Device. J Vis Exp 2025;(223). [PMID: 41052031]
- Cabillic M, Forriere H, Bettarel L, Butler C, Neuhaus A, Idrissi I, Sambrano-Lopez ME, Rossbroich J, Müller L, Ries J, Grenci G, Viasnoff V, Levet F, Sibarita J, and Galland R. In-depth single molecule localization microscopy using adaptive optics and single objective light-sheet microscopy. Nat Commun 2025; 16(1):8362. [PMID: 40993142]
- Mu B, Rutkowski DM, Grenci G, Vavylonis D, and Zhang D. Ca2+-dependent vesicular and non-vesicular lipid transfer controls hypoosmotic plasma membrane expansion. BMC Biol 2025; 23(1):207. [PMID: 40629316]
- Ong HT, Karatas E, Poquillon T, Grenci G, Furlan A, Dilasser F, Mohamad Raffi SB, Blanc D, Drimaracci E, Mikec D, Galisot G, Johnson BA, Liu AZ, Thiel C, Ullrich O, , Racine V, and Beghin A. Digitalized organoids: integrated pipeline for high-speed 3D analysis of organoid structures using multilevel segmentation and cellular topology. Nat Methods 2025;. [PMID: 40369245]
- Arora A, Rizvi MS, Grenci G, Dilasser F, Fu C, Ganguly M, Vaishnavi S, Paramsivam K, Budnar S, Noordstra I, Yap AS, and Viasnoff V. Viscous dissipation in the rupture of cell-cell contacts. Nat Mater 2025;. [PMID: 40355570]
- Nakazawa N, Grenci G, Kameo Y, Takeda N, Sawada T, Kurisu J, Zhang Z, Toma K, Adachi T, Nonomura K, and Kengaku M. PIEZO1-dependent mode switch of neuronal migration in heterogeneous microenvironments in the developing brain. Cell Rep 2025; 44(3):115405. [PMID: 40053456]
- Suryana M, Produit T, Yang H, Birarda G, Shanmugar JV, Krivitsky L, Paterova A, and Grenci G. Infrared imaging with visible light in microfluidic devices: the water absorption barrier. Analyst 2024;. [PMID: 39692693]
Selected Publications
- Mona Suryana, Jegan V. Shanmugarajah, Sivakumar M. Maniam, Gianluca Grenci. Soft Lithographic Procedure for Producing Plastic Microfluidic Devices with View-ports Transparent to Visible and Infrared Light
- Mohammed Ashraf, Sree V. Sundararajan, Gianluca Grenci. Low-power, low-pressure reactive-ion etching process for silicon etching with vertical and smooth walls for mechanobiology application
Lab Members
Wong Bin Sheng
Research Fellow, Li Group
Wong Liting
Research Assistant, Lim Group
MBI PI Timothy Saunders selected as EMBO Global Investigator
Asst. Prof. Timothy Saunders, MBI Principal Investigator and Department of Biological Sciences, NUS has been selected to join the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Global Investigator Network.
How fish get their shape
By investigating how chevron patterns form in embryonic fish muscle, a team from the Saunders Lab has revealed how physical forces are essential for correct formation of complex organ shapes. Learn more
International Conference on Genomes and AI: Post-event report
This 3-day event created a common platform for scientists, industry experts, and students to share ideas and innovations, and to facilitate fruitful discussions on how AI-based tools could be used to spur research in biological sciences.
Hilary Lappin-Scott visiting from Cardiff
Prof. Hilary Lappin-Scottvisiting MBI on 27th November, 2019, for an afternoon of talks, discussion and networking opportunities.
Actin Cytoskeleton-Based Mechanisms of Establishing Left-Right Asymmetry in Biological Systems
This mini symposium will explore exciting new findings in the study of actin cytoskeleton and its responsibility in establishing left-right asymmetry. Admission is free for all interested.
Wu Hongyi
Research Fellow, Li Group
Rachna Narayanan
Alumni, Saunders Group
Shen Yi Ying Narelle Nicola
Alumni, Research Assistant, Yu Group
Lim Hoe King
Alumni, Yu Group
Hew Choy Leong receives Alumni Award for Academic Achievement
Emeritus Professor Hew Choy Leong, Senior Advisor to MBI, is honoured with an Outstanding Alumni Award for Academic Achievement.
Former Lab Members
Wong Bin Sheng
Research Fellow, Li Group
Wong Liting
Research Assistant, Lim Group
MBI PI Timothy Saunders selected as EMBO Global Investigator
Asst. Prof. Timothy Saunders, MBI Principal Investigator and Department of Biological Sciences, NUS has been selected to join the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Global Investigator Network.
How fish get their shape
By investigating how chevron patterns form in embryonic fish muscle, a team from the Saunders Lab has revealed how physical forces are essential for correct formation of complex organ shapes. Learn more
International Conference on Genomes and AI: Post-event report
This 3-day event created a common platform for scientists, industry experts, and students to share ideas and innovations, and to facilitate fruitful discussions on how AI-based tools could be used to spur research in biological sciences.
Hilary Lappin-Scott visiting from Cardiff
Prof. Hilary Lappin-Scottvisiting MBI on 27th November, 2019, for an afternoon of talks, discussion and networking opportunities.
Actin Cytoskeleton-Based Mechanisms of Establishing Left-Right Asymmetry in Biological Systems
This mini symposium will explore exciting new findings in the study of actin cytoskeleton and its responsibility in establishing left-right asymmetry. Admission is free for all interested.
Wu Hongyi
Research Fellow, Li Group
Rachna Narayanan
Alumni, Saunders Group
Shen Yi Ying Narelle Nicola
Alumni, Research Assistant, Yu Group
Lim Hoe King
Alumni, Yu Group
Hew Choy Leong receives Alumni Award for Academic Achievement
Emeritus Professor Hew Choy Leong, Senior Advisor to MBI, is honoured with an Outstanding Alumni Award for Academic Achievement.
