E. Ada Cavalcanti-Adam
University of Heidelberg, Germany
Title: Cell-matrix interactions at the nanoscale
Biography
Biography: E. Ada Cavalcanti-Adam
Abstract
In tissues of mesenchymal origin, cell-extracellular matrix interactions are necessary for adhesion and migration and rely on the assembly of focal adhesions, micrometer-sized structures comprising transmembrane and intracellular protein clusters. Over the past two decades these structures have been extensively studied to elucidate their organization, assembly, and molecular composition, as well as to determine their functional role. Synthetic materials decorated with biological molecules, such as adhesive molecules and growth factors, are widely used to mimic the extracellular environment and to induce specific cellular responses dependent on cell adhesion. Nanotechnology provides tools to mimic and investigate such responses at single molecule resolution. This lecture focuses on cell interactions with nanopatterned surfaces biofunctionalized with adhesive peptides recognized by integrins, as well as on surfaces decorated with bone morphogenetic protein 2. Results on cell adhesion and adhesion-mediated signaling induced by surface immobilization and spatial distribution of the ligands will be presented. Surface patterning strategies for presenting on the same platform different chemical cues of the extracellular space will be also discussed.