Switchable polymer interfaces for bottom-up stimulation of mamalian cells

• Applicants: Dr. Klaus-Jochen Eichhorn; Privatdozent Dr. Karsten Hinrichs; Professor Dr. Marcus Müller; Professor Dr. Manfred Stamm
• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers ; Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2012 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 200926410

The ultimate goal of this project is to design and characterize a responsive thin polymer film platform comprised of functionalized mixed polymer brushes for the stimuli-triggered exposure of functional molecules to the bioengineered interfaces of mammalian cells. The project is within the framework of already established cooperation between Clemson University, Clarkson University, Dresden Technical University, Leibniz-Institute for Polymer Research Dresden, University of Göttingen, and Leibniz-Institute for Analytical Sciences (in Berlin) laboratories consisting of experts in the polymer, surface, and materials science. To accomplish the proposal objectives we extend the expertise of our research team by adding a bioengineer from the University of California in Davis, whose expertise relates to designing biological interfaces for cell cultivation and differentiation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Norbert Esser; Privatdozentin Petra Uhlmann, Ph.D.