第1233回生物科学セミナー
The role of membrane curvature at the nano-bio interface
Bianxiao Cui（Department of Chemistry and the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, Stanford University, USA）
2018年07月25日(水) 16:00-17:00 理学部1号館東棟 380号室
The interaction between the cell membrane and the contacting material is crucial for many biological applications such as medical implants. We are interested in exploring nanotechnology and novel materials to improve the membrane-surface interactions. Recently, we and other groups show that vertical nanopillars protruding from a flat surface support cell survival and can be used as subcellular sensors to probe biological processes in live cells. Vertical nanopillars deform the plasma membrane inwards and induce membrane curvature when the cell engulfs them, leading to a reduction of the membrane-substrate gap distance. We found that the high membrane curvature induced by vertical nanopillars significantly affects the distribution of curvature-sensitive proteins and stimulates several cellular processes in live cells. Our studies show a strong interplay between biological cells and nano-featured surfaces, which is an essential consideration for future development of interfacing devices.
