Prof. Dr. Stefan Schneider
University of Mannheim
Germany
Our laboratory has extensive experience in using modern nano-analytical tools for investigating cell differentiation and migration, in particular in response to cell-surface interactions. We feel that the chemical and physical nano-scale aspects of the interactions of living cells and tissue with nano-structured physical hydrogels are of paramount importance for our understanding of the mechanism of action of biologically active polysaccharides. We are able to prepare primary endothelial cells as well as blood clotting proteins and study the three-dimensional structure of cells and proteins and its regulation using atomic force microscopy, immunofluorescence, molecular genetic and biochemistry techniques. Moreover, we established a new cell-based invasion assay that enables to quantify and to evaluate cancer cell invasion into an intact epithelial cell monolayer in a time depend fashion.
The project proposed for MCGS aims at identifying possible applications for nano-structured physical hydrogels of polysaccharides in cell and tissue engineering. The overall objective of this work is to identify promising bio-medical applications for the polysaccharide hydrogels in cell and tissue engineering by the systematic screening of relevant areas of medical cell biology and tissue model systems for human diseases, namely inflammation, hemostasis, wound repair, and cancer spreading. Another objective is to establish well-founded structure-function relationships between nano-defined polysaccharide structures and the anti-inflammatory activities of the polysaccharides towards lymphocytes and endothelial cells, their anti-coagulatory effects against platelets and endothelial cells.
