IMX Seminar Series - PIC hydrogels as versatile synthetic and highly biomimetic matrix materials
Event details
| Date | 04.10.2021 |
| Hour | 13:15 › 14:15 |
| Speaker | Prof. Paul Kouwer, Radbud University, The Netherlands |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands, [email protected]
Fibrous hydrogels are omnipresent in the human body. At very low protein concentrations, they form stable, porous networks that are the basis for mechanical characteristics of cytoskeleton and of the extracellular matrix. The biogels in our bodies are not static; they respond to physical, chemical and cellular cues that adapt their properties.
Such architecture and behavior are not readily realized in synthetic materials. Recently, however, we developed a hydrogel that closely mimics the fibrous architecture as well as the linear and nonlinear mechanical properties of cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix materials. The synthetic nature of the material allows us to vary endlessly in molecular structure and derivatization with functional (bio)molecules.
In addition, our lab studies various applications of the biomimetic PIC gel, ranging from immunotherapy to wound care and dental therapies to 3D cell cultures. In any application, the PIC gel is precisely tailored in mechanical properties and biofunctionalization to drive the desired cell response. Mixed expertise in the research group ensures that innovations in hydrogel engineering, for instance features for in situ and reversible stiffness changes, can be directly applied in a biological context.
In this talk, I will introduce PIC gels, their structure and approaches how to controllably change the physical and biological properties. In addition, I will give various examples on how PIC properties may be used to affect cellular responses.
Fibrous hydrogels are omnipresent in the human body. At very low protein concentrations, they form stable, porous networks that are the basis for mechanical characteristics of cytoskeleton and of the extracellular matrix. The biogels in our bodies are not static; they respond to physical, chemical and cellular cues that adapt their properties.
Such architecture and behavior are not readily realized in synthetic materials. Recently, however, we developed a hydrogel that closely mimics the fibrous architecture as well as the linear and nonlinear mechanical properties of cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix materials. The synthetic nature of the material allows us to vary endlessly in molecular structure and derivatization with functional (bio)molecules.
In addition, our lab studies various applications of the biomimetic PIC gel, ranging from immunotherapy to wound care and dental therapies to 3D cell cultures. In any application, the PIC gel is precisely tailored in mechanical properties and biofunctionalization to drive the desired cell response. Mixed expertise in the research group ensures that innovations in hydrogel engineering, for instance features for in situ and reversible stiffness changes, can be directly applied in a biological context.
In this talk, I will introduce PIC gels, their structure and approaches how to controllably change the physical and biological properties. In addition, I will give various examples on how PIC properties may be used to affect cellular responses.
Links
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- Maartje Bastings & Philip Moll
Contact
- Maartje Bastings & Philip Moll