Synthesis, biophysical characterization and virus penetration of mucus-inspired dynamic hydrogels (B03)

• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 431232613

In this project, we will synthesize and biophysically characterize novel mucin-inspired hydrogels mimicking native mucus biobarriers. Our hypothesis is that an optimal mucus-like hydrogel is formed by cross¬linking of semi-flexible glycopolymers that have a size distribution being comparable to typical viruses. Synthetic high molecular weight dendronized glycopolymers will be crosslinked and investigated by biophysical assays employing advanced microscopy and microfluidics, which allow for comparing the binding of influenza A virus variants to native and our synthetic mucins and thus to optimize the design of the mucus-like hydrogels.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1449: Dynamic Hydrogels at Biointerfaces
• Major Instrumentation: 2D HPLC-GPC Separation System
• Instrumentation Group: 1350 Flüssigkeits-Chromatographen (außer Aminosäureanalysatoren 317), Ionenaustauscher
• Applicant Institution: Freie Universität Berlin
• Project Heads: Dr. Stephan Block; Professor Dr. Rainer Haag