NWNR001037 Bioadhesion: The Glue of Life
- Type
- Lecture and exercise
- Semester hours
- 2
- Lecturer (assistant)
- Schrangl, Lukas , Toca-Herrera, José Luis
- Organisation
- Biophysics
- Offered in
- Sommersemester 2026
- Languages of instruction
- Englisch
- Content
-
Bioadhesion—processes by which materials adhere to biological surfaces—is ubiquitous. Cells attach to other cells in order to communicate and to form tissues, bacteria create biofilms, insects walk upside-down on ceilings, mussels resist predators by sticking to rocks, surgeons seal wounds using specialized glue—to name just a few examples. In this course, we will examine the concepts of bioadhesion in depth. Starting with the biophysical basics, we will discuss a wide range of aspects: molecular and structured adhesion, reversibility, cellular adhesion, receptor–ligand interactions, characterization techniques, engineering of bioadhesive materials, and more. We will also cover experimentally highly relevant topics concerning bioadhesion in sample preparation, e.g., fluorescent labeling, attachment of cells to substrates, common pitfalls.
- Previous knowledge expected
-
Basic knowledge of biophysics, chemistry, and molecular biology is advantageous, but not required.
- Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)
-
The students acquire understanding of the adhesive systems in nature, their experimental assessment, and their use in scientific practice.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.