Adhesion Percolation Determines Global Deformation Behavior in Biomimetic Emulsions

Characterizing the mechanical properties of tissues is key for understanding fundamental biological processes such as morphogenesis or tumor progression. In particular, intercellular adhesion forces, mediated by transmembrane proteins like cadherins, are expected to control topology and viscoelastic behavior under stress. order understand influence in tissues, we use biomimetic emulsions which droplets mimic cells adhere each other through specific bonds. Here, tune both binding energy adhesive inter-droplets contacts well fraction that adhesive, thereby defining a so-called adhesiveness. Our experimental results show prevents emergence local even at high packing fractions preventing energetically costly droplet rearrangements. By studying deformation within packings with different average adhesiveness values, reveal existence threshold value above all deformed ones irrespective their properties. We this critical coincides percolation structures throughout tissue. From point view, indicates only would be sufficient global tissue, during morphogenesis.