2026
Biofilms as living soft materials: Towards a mechanistic description of their linear and nonlinear mechanics, E. Secchi, Phys. Rev. E, 114 (2), 021001
Bacterial resilience and dispersal in dynamic oxygen gradients, A. Loncar, E. Secchi, J. Jimenez-Martinez, T. Le Borgne, H. Tabuteau, Biomicrofluidics, 20 (4)
Single-cell approach dissecting agr quorum sensing dynamics in Staphylococcus aureus, J. Bär, M. Pivard, S. G. V. Charlton, A. G. Kempchinsky, A. Gómez-Mejia, G. S. Ugolini, S. M. Shambat, E. Secchi, A. S. Zinkernagel, Nature Communications
Emergent spatial structure in the gut microbiota is driven by bacterial growth and gut contractions, G. Greter, S. Hummel, D. Künzli, N. Dünki, N. Ruoho, P. Burkhardt, et al., PLoS Biology, 24 (4), e3003772
Shaping nematic order in bacterial films with single-cell resolution patterning, M. L. Bec, G. P. Martín, C. Boggon, Y. Hu, L. Puggioni, R. Heydenreich, A. Mathys, L. Giomi, E. Secchi, L. Isa, arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.21655
Tunable Double Yielding in Bacterial Biofilms, L. E. G. Porath, S. Charlton, J. Vermant, E. Secchi, APS Global Physics Summit 2026
Fluid flow and environmental geometry guide the journey of swimming bacteria, E. Secchi, Cell, 189 (4), 998-1000
Reduction of bacterial colonization on buckling-induced wrinkled surfaces under fluid shear, L. Pellegrino, G. Savorana, V. Cassina, R. Campanile, M. Centola, C. Belgiovine, V. Vinci, M. Klinger, S. Lecuyer, E. D’imprima, F. Mantegazza, E. Secchi, R. Rusconi, Nature Communications, 17 (1), 1324
bioRheoFlow: A Rheometric Platform for In Situ Biofilm Mechanics Under Controlled Flow Conditions, V. Ianniello, S. Geisel, E. Secchi, T. Tervoort, J. Vermant, bioRxiv, 2026.09.29.755442
Multiscale reorganisation of colloidal aggregation by percolating bacterial networks, L. Stricker, S. G. V. Charlton, E. Secchi, Soft Matter, 22 (22), 3870-3881
Controlling spatial structure in minimal microbial communities by sequential capillary assembly, C. Boggon, J. P. H. Wong, A. Sahoo, A. S. Zinkernagel, M. A. Seeger, E. Secchi, L. Isa, Lab on a Chip
2025
Stress-hardening behaviour of biofilm streamers, G. Savorana, T. Redaelli, D. Truzzolillo, L. Cipelletti, E. Secchi, Nature Communications, 16 (1), 9497
The influence of bodily fluid rheology on biofilm formation: known facts and open questions, G. Savorana, A. Di Claudio, R. Rusconi, E. Secchi, Philosophical Transactions A, 383 (2304), 20240267
In-flow measurement of molecular diffusion coefficients using differential dynamic microscopy, U. Eberhard, M. Usuelli, E. Secchi, H. J. Seybold, M. Holzner, Phys. Rev. E, 111 (5), 055416
Biogel scavenging slows the sinking of organic particles to the ocean depths, U. Alcolombri, A. Nissan, J. Słomka, S. Charlton, E. Secchi, I. Short, K. S. Lee, F. J Peaudeeerf, D. A. Baumgartner, A. Sichert, U. Sauer, A. Sengupta, R. Stocker, Nature Communications, 16 (1), 3290
Role of cellular filamentation in bacterial aggregation and cluster-cluster assembly, S. Charlton., G. Melaugh., D. Marenduzzo, C. MacPhee, and E. Secchi, Phys. Rev. E, 111, 024410
2024
Direct Numerical Simulation of Bioclogging in Porous Media, I. C. Bourg, F. J. Carrillo, D. L. Kurz, E. Secchi, R. Stocker, J. Jimenez-Martinez, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2024, H33K-1072
Flow-driven biofilm assembly and dynamics in fluids, E. Secchi, G. Savorana, R. Rusconi, D. Kurz, J. Jimenez-Martinez, S. H. Lee, P. K. Kang, S. Charlton, S. Geisel, J. Vermant, L. Eberl, APS March Meeting Abstracts 2024, A43.003
Magnetic fluid film enables almost complete drag reduction across laminar and turbulent flow regimes, L. M. Stancanelli, E. Secchi, M. Holzner, Communications Physics, 7 (1), 30
Microfluidic approaches in microbial ecology, G. S. Ugolini, M. Wang, E. Secchi, R. Pioli, M. Ackermann, R. Stocker, Lab on a Chip, 24 (5), 1394-1418
2023
Tunable living bacterial networks: A multi-scaled description of their self-assembly and mechanical behaviour, S. G. V. Charlton, G. Melaugh, D. Marenduzzo, C. MacPhee, E. Secchi, bioRxiv
Genotoxic stress stimulates eDNA release via explosive cell lysis and thereby promotes streamer formation of Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 cultured in a microfluidic device, Z. Heredia-Ponce, E. Secchi, M. Toyofuku, G. Marinova, G. Savorana & L. Eberl, npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 9 (1), 96
Biofilm Rheology and Fluid Flow Delineate Four Bioclogging Regimes in Porous Media, I. C. Bourg, F. J. Carrillo, D. L. Kurz, E. Secchi, R. Stocker, J. Jimenez-Martinez, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2023, H54D-04
Single-cell patterning and characterisation of antibiotic persistent bacteria using bio-sCAPA, C. Boggon, S. M. Shambat, A. Zinkernagel, E. Secchi, L. Isa, Lab on a Chip, 23 (23), 5018-5028
Microstructural and rheological transitions in bacterial biofilms, S.G.V. Charlton, A. N. Bible, E. Secchi, J. L. Morrell‐Falvey, S. T. Retterer, T. P. Curtis, Jinju Chen, S. Jana, Advanced Science, 10 (27), 2207373
The role of genotoxic stress in streamer formation, Z. M. H. Ponce, E. Secchi, M. Toyofuku, G. Marinova, G. Savorana, L. Eberl
Rapid formation of bioaggregates and morphology transition to biofilm streamers induced by pore-throat flows, S. H. Lee, E. Secchi, P. K. Kang, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (14), e2204466120
Morphogenesis of biofilms in porous media and control on hydrodynamics, D. Kurz, E. Secchi, R. Stocker, J. Jimenez-Martinez*, Environmental Science & Technology, 57 (14), 5666-5677
What shapes bacterial biofilms? A Physics perspective, E. Secchi, Bulletin of the American Physical Society
Microbial interaction with micrometer-scale wrinkled surfaces subjected to fluid shear, L. Pellegrino, G. Savorana, C. Belgiovine, V. Vinci, B. Agnelli, G. Janszen, Luca Di Landro, Marco Klinger, E. Secchi, J. Cabral, R: Rusconi, Bulletin of the American Physical Society
Migration of surface-associated microbial communities in spaceflight habitats, D. Marra, T. Karapantsios, S. Caserta, E. Secchi, M. Holynska, S. Labarthe, et al., Biofilm, 5, 100109
2022
A microfluidic platform to study bioclogging in porous media, D. Kurz, E. Secchi*, R. Stocker, J. Jimenez-Martinez*, Journal of Visualized Experiments, 188, e64689
The role of biofilm matrix composition in controlling colony expansion and morphology, S. G. V. Charlton, D. Kurz, S. Geisel, J. Jimenez-Martinez, E. Secchi*, Interface Focus, 12 (6), 20220035
Experimental challenges in determining the rheological properties of bacterial biofilms, S. Geisel, E. Secchi, J. Vermant, Interface Focus, 12 (6), 20220032
Competition between growth and shear stress drives intermittency in preferential flow paths in porous medium biofilms, D. L. Kurz, E. Secchi*, F. J. Carrillo, I.C Bourg, R. Stocker and J. Jimenez-Martinez*, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119 (30), e2122202119
Transport of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in polymer solutions, G. Savorana, S. Geisel, T. Cen, Y. Ling, R. Stocker, R. Rusconi, E. Secchi*, Frontiers in Physics, 10, 910882
The role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilms, S. Geisel, E. Secchi*, and J. Vermant*, eLife, 11, e76027
A microfluidic platform for characterizing the structure and rheology of biofilm streamers, G. Savorana, J. Slomka, R. Stocker, R. Rusconi and E. Secchi*, Soft Matter, 18, 3878-3890
Dynamic arrest and aging of biomolecular condensates are regulated by low-complexity domains, RNA and biochemical activity, M. Linsenmeier, M. Hondele, Fulvio Grigolato, E. Secchi, K. Weis, P. Arosio, Nature Communications, 13, 3030
The structural role of bacterial eDNA in the formation of biofilm streamers, E. Secchi*, G. Savorana, A. Vitale, L. Eberl, R. Stocker, and R. Rusconi, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119 (12) e2113723119>
Patterning of Microorganisms and Microparticles through Sequential Capillarity-assisted Assembly, R. Pioli, R. Stocker, L. Isa, and E. Secchi*, Journal of Visualized Experiments, 177, e63131
Environmental, microbiological, and immunological features of bacterial biofilms associated with implanted medical devices, M. Caldara*, C. Belgiovine*, E. Secchi*, R. Rusconi*, Clinical microbiology reviews, 35 (2), e00221-20
2021
Patterning of Microorganisms and Microparticles through Sequential Capillarity-assisted Assembly, R. Pioli, R. Stocker, L. Isa, and E. Secchi*, Journal of Visualized Experiments, 177, e63131
Localization in flow of non-Newtonian fluids through disordered porous media, H. J. Seybold, U. Eberhard, E. Secchi, R. L. C. Cisne, J. Jiménez-Martínez, R. F. S. Andrade, A. D. Araújo, M. Holzner & J.S. Andrade, Frontiers in Physics, 9, 635051
An interdisciplinary and application-oriented approach to teach microfluidics, M. Mehdi Salek, V. Fernandez, G. D’souza, J. Puigmartí-Luis, R.Stocker & E.Secchi*, Biomicrofluidics, 15, 014104
Sequential capillarity-assisted particle assembly in a microfluidic channel, R. Pioli, M.A. Fernandez-Rodriguez, F. Grillo, L. Alvarez, R. Stocker, L. Isa* & E. Secchi*, Lab on Chip, 21, 888
2020
Mapping the local viscosity of non-Newtonian fluids flowing through disordered porous structures, U. Eberhard, H. J. Seybold, E. Secchi, J. Jiménez-Martínez, P. A. Rühs, A. Ofner, J. S. Andrade Jr. & M. Holzner, Scientific reports, 10, 11733
The effect of flow on swimming bacteria controls the initial colonization of curved surfaces, E. Secchi, A. Vitale, G. L. Miño, V. Kantsler, L. Eberl, R. Rusconi & R. Stocker, Nature Communications, 2851
Magnetic cilia carpets with programmable metachronal waves, H. Gu, Q. Boehler, H. Cui, E. Secchi, G. Savorana, C. De Marco, S. Gervasoni, Q. Peyron, T. J Huang, S. Pane, A. M Hirt, D.Ahmed & B. J. Nelson, Nature Communications, 2637
Encounter rates between bacteria and small sinking particles, J. Słomka, U. Alcolombri, E. Secchi, R. Stocker, V. Fernandez, New Journal of Physics
2019
The effect of flow on swimming bacteria controls the initial colonization of curved surfaces, E. Secchi, A. Vitale, G.L. Miño, V. Kantsler, L. Eberl, R. Rusconi, R. Stocker, bioRxiv, 866491
Not Just Going with the Flow: The Effects of Fluid Flow on Bacteria and Plankton, J.D. Wheeler, E. Secchi, R. Rusconi, R. Stocker, Annual review of cell and developmental biology, 35, 213-237
2018
An interdisciplinary and application-oriented approach to teach microfluidics for microbial ecology, E Secchi, V Fernandez, M Salek, ETH Learning and Teaching Journal 1
Polysaccharide-based hydrogels with tunable composition as 3D cell culture systems, R Gentilini, F Munarin, N Bloise, E Secchi, L Visai, MC Tanzi, P Petrini, The International journal of artificial organs, 41 (4), 213-222
2017
The Landau–Squire plume, E Secchi, S Marbach, A Niguès, A Siria, L Bocquet, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 826, R3
2016
Massive radius-dependent flow slippage in carbon nanotubes, E Secchi, S Marbach, A Niguès, D Stein, A Siria, L Bocquet, Nature, 537 (7619), 210
Intermittent turbulence in flowing bacterial suspensions, E Secchi, R Rusconi, S Buzzaccaro, MM Salek, S Smriga, R Piazza, R Stocker, Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 13 (119), 20160175
Scaling behavior for ionic transport and its fluctuations in individual carbon nanotubes, E Secchi, A Niguès, L Jubin, A Siria, L Bocquet, Physical review letters, 116 (15), 154501
2015
Spatially: resolved heterogeneous dynamics in a strong colloidal gel, S Buzzaccaro, MD Alaimo, E Secchi, R Piazza, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 27 (19), 194120
2014
External and internal gelation of pectin solutions: microscopic dynamics versus macroscopic rheology, E Secchi, F Munarin, MD Alaimo, S Bosisio, S Buzzaccaro, G Ciccarella, V Vergaro, P Petrini, R Piazza, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 26 (46), 464106
Time-evolution scenarios for short-range depletion gels subjected to the gravitational stress, E Secchi, S Buzzaccaro, R Piazza, Soft Matter, 10 (29), 5296-5310
2013
On the general concept of buoyancy in sedimentation and ultracentrifugation, R Piazza, S Buzzaccaro, E Secchi, A Parola, Physical biology, 10 (4), 045005
Ghost particle velocimetry: accurate 3D flow visualization using standard lab equipment, S Buzzaccaro, E Secchi, R Piazza, Physical review letters, 111 (4), 048101
Sedimentation equilibrium and the generalized Archimedes’ principle, A Parola, S Buzzaccaro, E Secchi, R Piazza, The Journal of chemical physics, 138 (11), 114907
Formation and acceleration of uniformly filled ellipsoidal electron bunches obtained via space-charge-driven expansion from a cesium-telluride photocathode, P Piot, YE Sun, TJ Maxwell, J Ruan, E Secchi, JCT Thangaraj, Physical Review Special Topics-Accelerators and Beams, 16 (1), 010102
Biopolymer gels with “physical” cross-links: gelation kinetics, aging, heterogeneous dynamics, and macroscopic mechanical properties, E Secchi, T Roversi, S Buzzaccaro, L Piazza, R Piazza, Soft Matter, 9 (15), 3931-3944
2012
The unbearable heaviness of colloids: facts, surprises, and puzzles in sedimentation, R Piazza, S Buzzaccaro, E Secchi, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 24 (28), 284109
Equilibrium concentration profiles and sedimentation kinetics of colloidal gels under gravitational stress, S Buzzaccaro, E Secchi, G Brambilla, R Piazza, L Cipelletti, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 24 (28), 284103
What buoyancy really is. A generalized Archimedes’ principle for sedimentation and ultracentrifugation, R Piazza, S Buzzaccaro, E Secchi, A Parola, Soft Matter, 8 (27), 7112-7115