Institut für Biophysik

Seed encapsulation in hard shells is common for protection and dispersal. In their article "Topological Interlocking and Geometric Stiffening as Complementary Strategies for Strong Plant Shells", the research group led by Notburga Gierlinger from Institute for Biophysics reveal previously unknown functional interrelations between the structure, geometry, and mechanics in nutshells. They found that simple geometric modifications, such as the development of puzzle-shaped instead of round cells, and small spherical shells instead of large ellipsoidal shells, increase the fracture resistance of hard plant shells resource-efficiently.

Dr. Jagoba Iturri and Prof. Dr. José L. Toca-Herrera, from the Institute for Biophysics, will edit the Special Issue Entitled “Applied Physics in Cancer Cells” for Biology Journal, collecting recent advances in applied physics methodologies (i.e. scanning probe microscopy, cytomechanics and adhesive properties, electrical properties and magnetic fields, etc) for the characterization and diagnosis of cancerous cells and tissues.

Macrophages are critical players in host response, remodeling and degradation. However, an assessment tool to evaluate the degradation of biodegradable materials in a more physiological environment is still needed. Dr Marjan Enayati (Medical University Vienna) has developed an in vitro model based on monocyte-derived macrophage cell culture that allows long-term analysis of degradation and mechanical properties of polyurethanes (TPU). Professor José Luis Toca-Herrera and Dr Jagoba Iturri from Institute for Biophysics (Department of Nanobiotechnology) contributed to the detection of surface defects in the fibrous structure of these scaffolds as degradation proceeds, mediated by activated macrophages both in vitro and in vivo, by employing Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy techniques.

Replacement of the cantilever tip by a living cell in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) experiments permits the direct quantification of cell–substrate and cell–cell adhesion forces. This so-called single-cell probe force measurement technique has been employed in this work to differentiate between the adhesive capacities of parental and Sox2-overexpressing MCF7 breast cancer cells, having the latter a higher capacity for invasion and better resistance to endocrine therapy in vivo. Our findings demonstrate the strength of this combined approach to assess and compare the adhesion properties of different cell lines.

Research stay financed by OeAD (grant number ICM-2017-06608) helps to clarify the interaction between the antihypertensive drug Ramipril and the plant flavonoid quercetin in the presence of human serum albumin.