Together we work on elucidating the structure and micromechanical properties of the pericellular coat. This highly hydrated layer composed of flexible hyaluronan polymers and proteins plays a vital role in cell proliferation, motility and embryogenesis. While the molecular interactions are intensivly studied (see our collaboration partner Anthony J. Day), the micromechanical structure remains poorly understood. Therefore, we perform microrheological measurements within this layer on living chondrocytes. The obtained structural information is compared to measurements performed with confocal fluorescent microscopy (carried out in cooperation with Uwe Rauch, Lund University.

The project is benefiting tremendeously from Tabea Mundinger’s student project as well as from work carried out by Martin Etzrodt, Valentin Hagel and Daniel Barzan (all: University of Heidelberg).