Regulation of the Fate of Cells and Cell Ensembles using Tunable Interfaces

• Antragstellerin: Dr. Fernanda Rossetti
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Biologische und Biomimetische Chemie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2007 bis 2009
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 41734899

The primary goal of the project is the design of physically defined models of tissue surfaces to precisely (i.e., quantitatively) control the morphology and motility of cells and cell ensembles. To achieve this goal, stimuli responsive polymer films—whose physical properties (charge density, chemical potential of water, steric repulsion, viscoelasticity, etc.) can be “switched” reversibly upon distinct external stimuli—will be used as a physical model of the extracellular matrix. Within the framework of this project, I plan to use pH responsive and/or thermo-responsive polymer materials. As the first step, changes in the structure and mechanical properties of polymer films will be monitored by neutron reflectivity and colloidal probe rheometry. In the next step, neutron reflectivity and fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching techniques will be used to determine the influence of external stimuli on the model membrane-substrate contact. In parallel to the study on model systems, changes in the morphology of human endothelial cells and cell ensembles (for example, continuum cell layers) upon the stimuli will be studied by microinterferometry. Last but not least, the combination with micro-fluidic cells will enable us to create defined gradients of pH and temperature, which are suited to unravel the decision making processes involved in cell motility.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsstipendien
• Gastgeber: Professor Dr. Motomu Tanaka