Regensburg 2002 – scientific programme

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SYBM: Physik biologischer Materie

SYBM 302: Biomolecular mechanics

SYBM 302.3: Talk

Tuesday, March 12, 2002, 17:30–17:45, H37

Probing local properties in complex biomaterials — •Andreas Bausch — Biophysics Group (E22), Technische Universitaet Muenchen, 85747 Garching, Germany

Recent advances in biology provide information of unprecedented complexity, highlighting the need for a fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms. An excellent example for the complexity is the dynamic and localized response of the cytoskeleton, which is a intracellular system of polymeric structures. The collective interactions of the many cytoplasmic constituents are critical for many cellular processes such as mechanical stability, cell motility, adhesion and intracellular transport processes. Here we describe the development of new physical techniques and model systems. We characterized the local mechanical properties of actin networks. Introducing the two-point microrheology we were able to relate the microrheological measurements with bulk rheological measurements. We were able to quantify the viscoelastic properties of the highly heterogeneous cytoplasm of macrophages. Self-assembly, a concept commonly used in such biological systems has also enabled us to design new materials. We can control the self-assembly of novel capsules with important permeability properties which make them ideal for encapsulation purposes.