Bastien F. G. Aymon

Bastien F. G. Aymon is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering whose research is located at the intersection of mechanics, soft active materials, and bioadhesives. Specifically, Bastien is working to develop super-biocompatible implants by studying and engineering their mechanics and biology. As a MathWorks Fellow, Bastien will address the challenge of the foreign-body response (FBR), an immune reaction leading to the development of a fibrotic encapsulation around the implant, with the goals of producing guidelines for durable, fibrosis-free implantation and enhancing implant longevity. Bastien’s project leverages mechanical modifications of a previously developed anti-fibrotic adhesive film to study the critical parameters influencing the FBR. His preliminary experiments have shown how changes in immune cell populations correlate with the level of mechanical stresses. Next, he will use single-cell technologies to elucidate the biological pathways associated with the fibrotic state. His work relies heavily on, and has offered valuable enhancements to, MathWorks products. Bastien’s research has strong potential to advance the design of next-generation biocompatible implants and contribute to the nascent field of mechanoimmunology.