“Physical states of cells somewhere between life and death”
Prof. Jochen Guck
Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Light, Erlangen
7th December 2022 – 2:00 pm
Please note that participants from Bayreuth are invited to join the seminar in person at the University of Bayreuth, Lecture hall S104, FAN B.
Organized by Prof. Dr. Stepan Gekle (UBT, Bayreuth)
“Photo-responsive Double Network Hydrogels”
Dr. Agustina Aldana
MERLN – Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
8th December 2022 – 2.00 pm
Organized by Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini (FAU Erlangen)
Abstract
Hydrogels based on non-covalent and/or dynamic covalent cross-links have shown that dynamicity plays an important role to recreate the extracellular matrix (ECM) functionality and structure. However, the uncontrollable network properties across timescales makes these dynamic hydrogels insufficient for fully recapitulating the native ECM. In order to overcome this issue, double network (DN) hydrogels have gained attention as an approach to mimic the multicomponent ECM. Furthermore, DN have enhanced mechanical properties. In the INKspired project, we aimed to design biomaterials with spatiotemporal-controlled mechanical properties. The combination of two networks was investigated: one dynamic covalent cross-linked, and the other one photo-responsive network. The second network based on light-responsive linkages could enable reversible control of cross-linking degree over space and time.