Regensburg 2016 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik
DY 29: Poster - Active Matter, Microswimmers and -fluidics, Statistical Physics Biosystems
DY 29.13: Poster
Tuesday, March 8, 2016, 18:15–21:00, Poster C
Phase-field model for phagocytosis — Kornelius Sücker1, •Christian König1, Walter Zimmermann1, and Falko Ziebert1,2 — 1Theoretische Physik, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany — 2Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Phagocytosis is the process of engulfment of small (typically micron sized) particles by cells. It is used by unicellular organisms to take up nutrients, but also essential for the immune response in higher organisms. In contrast to the so-called endocytosis of nanoscale particles, which are taken up mainly by particle-induced membrane curvature, phagocytosis relies on active processes in the cytoskeleton. We here model the particle engulfment by a cell via a two-dimensional phase-field approach that allows to elegantly describe the moving cell boundary. The main mechanisms taken into account so far are the stimulation of actin polymerization and its associated propulsion force, as well as of motor contraction, by the presence of the particle.