Research Activities Biological Soft Matter

    1. Cytoskeleton
      - Mechanics of composite vimentin-microtubule systems
      - Macro- and microrheology of Intermediate Filaments
      - Actin network mechanics and cell motility
      - Artificial cells: liposome encapsulated actin-myosin networks
      - Self-organization of active networks of actin and myosin motors
      - Spatial constraints on cytoskeletal organization
      - Actin/microtubule interactions

    2. Extracellular matrix and cellular mechanosening
      - Cellular mechanotransduction in 3D extracellular matrices
      - Strain-dependent elastic behavior of fibrin networks
      - Hierarchical mechanics of collagen fibril networks

    3. Amyloid fibers
      - Structure and mechanics of amyloid fibers

    4. Techniques
      - High-frequency laser tweezers microrheology
      - In situ visualization of biopolymer networks under shear