Interactions of single polymer chains in a thermophoretic trap (B10)

• Subject Area: Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics ; Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers
• Term: from 2011 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 189853844

The aim of this project is to contribute with microscopic studies of the protein fibril growth to the understanding of amyloid formation. Building on the developed technique of thermo-phoretic trapping and fluorescence imaging we aim to constrain single seed fibrils spatially to directly image in real time their growth, branching or fragmentation and its dependence on the protein structure and other ingredients modifying the fibril growth. This shall provide a microscopic foundation for the kinetic models in the literature.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 102: Polymers under Multiple Constraints: Restricted and Controlled Molecular Order and Mobility
• Applicant Institution: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Frank Cichos