Mechanics and functionality of the cell interface studied by model systems

• Grant number: 14/14682-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Maria Teresa Moura Lamy
• Grantee: Marcos Kunihiro Masukawa
• Supervisor: Margarita Staykova
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Durham University (DU), England
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/24949-0 - Structural characterization of cationic amphiphilic aggregates: a study with the fluorescent probe Laurdan, BP.IC

Abstract

Biological cells possess dynamic and highly functional interfaces, comprised of athin lipid membrane sandwiched between two porous, elastic substrates- the actincortex and the extracellular matrix. With the recent physical insights on thin filmdynamics, the question of whether the stratified architecture of the cell interfaceplays a role in the biological phenomena becomes highly relevant. To study thiswe will develop lipo-gel systems as a mimic of the cell interface and will analyzetheir mechanical response by optical microscopy. The project will provide us withnew understanding of the mechanisms of mechano-response, surface area and shaperegulation in cells. It will seek practical implementation by designing biomimeticinterfaces, which replicate the functionality of natural cell membranes for techno-logical purposes. (AU)