Physical Role of Biopolymers
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| Polymers play an important role in cell-tissue contacts, for example in the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) or the glycocalix. We try to model this scenario in simpler systems. For instance, polymer-supported membranes can recreate aspects of membrane-polymer interaction, while membrane stacks of polysaccharide-carrying lipids are useful for studying sugar-sugar interactions. | ||
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| Using polymer-supported membranes allows us to incorporate large transmembrane proteins such as cell-adhesion receptors in non-denaturing conditions on solid supports. | ||
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| Cell adhesion models can be made from artificial lipid vesicles adhering to solid-supported membranes. These adhesion regions can be visualized and investigated with interference microscopy techniques. | ||