Projects / Programmes
Biophysics of Polymers, Membranes, Gels, Colloids and Cells
January 1, 2004
- December 31, 2008
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.02.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
|
| 3.03.00 |
Medical sciences |
Neurobiology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B002 |
Biomedical sciences |
Biophysics |
polimers, lipid bilayer, biological membranes, proteins, gels, colloids, DLVO interactions, cells, liquid crystals, chirality, biophysics
Researchers (29)
Organisations (6)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0106 |
Jožef Stefan Institute |
Ljubljana |
5051606000 |
90,724 |
| 2. |
0381 |
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine |
Ljubljana |
1627066 |
48,238 |
| 3. |
0588 |
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education |
Ljubljana |
1627082 |
30,492 |
| 4. |
0589 |
University of Maribor, Faculty of Education |
Maribor |
5089638013 |
13,257 |
| 5. |
1554 |
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics |
Ljubljana |
1627007 |
34,106 |
| 6. |
2547 |
University of Maribor, Faculty of natural sciences and mathematics |
Maribor |
5089638051 |
18,042 |
Abstract
Macromolecules and macromolecular aggregates like DNA and phospholipid membranes, obtained through isolation and/or reconstitution of fundamental building blocks of the living matter, determine their basic modes of action as well as responses to changes in their molecular environment. The analysis of various macromolecular liquid crystalline phases, be they biological macromoleculs themselves or their complicated anorganic analogues, as well as their basic symmetries and fundamental biocolloidal interactions define the first step of the proposed research program. The intergration of these fundamental principles of the nature of the structures and interactions among the basic macromolecular building blocks in the understanding of the physical properties and even more importantly, the possibility of control of the type and resonse of the constituents of the cell or cells and larger cell aggregates on changes in their environment represents the second step of this research program. Its basic principle being the bottom-up physical reconstitution of various living systems, from simple, model macromolecules all the way to morte complicated macromolecular aggregates, cells, organs and tissues.
Significance for science
Life sciences are a most rapidly evolving field of science. Our research program has importantly contributed to this development due to its broad-based approach to research, connecting different levels of organization of living matter (from molecular level to complex macromolecular systems and living cells) and different scientific disciplines (physics, biology, medicine). During the period 2004-2008, members of the program P1-0055 have published a total of 158 original scientific papers and 6 reviews in high-impact scientific journals as well as 6 standalone chapters in scientific monographs. The total number of pure citations of our publications within this period exceeds 400. Members of the program gave 46 invited talks at international conferences and 67 talks at foreign universities or research institutes. Members of the program serve as reviewers for many high-impact scientific journals – Physical Review E, Biophysical Journal, Physical Review Letters, European Physical Journal E and many others. During the period 2004-2008 we have reviewed more than 200 manuscripts. With this anonymous yet important public work we contribute to the development of the global scientific culture. We also serve on editorial boards of several international scientific journals (Phys Rev E; J Biol Phys; Eur J Phys; BioSystems; PMC Biophysics). At the molecular level we contributed to a better understanding of the interactions between macromolecules, we set up conceptually new approaches and devised new theoretical paradigms to explain the observations. On the basis of extensive studies of the theory of van der Waals interactions, statistical mechanics of ordered and disordered Coulomb fluids, and relaxation phenomena in DNA solutions we obtained scaling laws for the characteristic length scales of relaxation. We developed a theory of osmotic balance and packing of DNA in bacteriophages, and a theory of self-assembly of RNA viruses on the basis of non-specific electrostatic interactions. In the field of soft matter we investigated theoretically and experimentally new structures in liquid-crystals made of complex molecules and studied colloid suspensions. In a joint project with the experimental group of C. Bechinger from University of Stuttgart, we have directly measured the three-body contribution to the electrostatic interaction in a system comprised of three colloids in an electrolyte suspension. Based on our research of phospholipid vesicles we deepened the knowledge on the behavior of cells and cell aggregates. We quantified the transmembrane transport mechanisms through membrane pores and due to osmotic processes. We showed the role of the distribution of inclusions in the membrane in the phospholipid vesicle morphology. We investigated the shapes of simple multivesicle aggregates and theoretically analyzed the structure of red blood cell rouleaux. Based on this analysis we proposed a possible mechanism of the shape and stability of Golgi cisternae. We investigated the criteria for spontaneous self-replication of vesicles and we discussed the possible role of this process in the origin of cellular life. We analyzed the role of blastula wall in the blastula shape transformation, which takes place during the process of gastrulation. We analyzed the effects of several substrates on adhesion of cells in a cell culture. At the cellular level we focused on the role of Ca2+ in intracellular dynamics and we studied the intercellular communication which is essential for understanding of properties of tissues. The results of deterministic models of airway smooth muscle cells are applicable in clinical studies of asthmatic diseases. The latest findings from dynamic systems analysis and game theory helped us analyze the influence of noise on cellular oscillators and stochastic resonance effects. Thus we expanded the knowledge on intercellular communication, which is of great significance for biology and medicine.
Significance for the country
Program P1-0055 is the main national research program of biophysical nature: Our main mission is to provide a cohesive framework for researchers who study physical aspects of biological and biologically relevant systems. A strong team with a balanced structure of members' background and experience of both theoretical and experimental specialization is an optimal catalyst for the exchange of knowledge and thus a guarantee of further advancement of biophysics in Slovenia. Also important is the nationwide character of our team which combines the expertise of researchers based at University of Ljubljana, Jožef Stefan Institute, University of Maribor, and University of Nova Gorica, thus contributing to the polycentric development of science and higher education. Our program provides the scientific basis for the study of biophysics in Slovenia. All three full professors of biophysics in Slovenia are members of the team (Prof. S. Svetina, Prof. B. Žekš and Prof. R. Podgornik). We have actively participated in the Bologna reform of higher education in Slovenia. We designed curricula for a range of physics and biophysics courses and were engaged in preparation of 7 new Bachelor and Master programs. Members of the program teach in 33 study programs at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Education, and Biotechnical Faculty at UL and Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences at UM. Between 2004 and 2008, members of the research program have supervised or co-supervised 8 PhD theses, 3 MS theses, and 93 BSc theses. We have authored or co-authored 9 textbooks and contributed to the 3rd edition of Slovenian Medical Dictionary. We constructively participate in Slovenian scientific and higher-education community. Prof. B. Žekš was president of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts from 2002 to 2008. Prof. N. Vaupotič served as head of the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Education UM, head of the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (FNSM) UM, and dean of the FNSM UM. Prof. Vaupotič was one of the initiators of the new FNSM UM, which is one of the mile-stones of the development of Physics at UM and in the north-east Slovenia. Prof. M. Marhl has been Vice-Rector of University of Maribor since 2007. Although the research program is devoted to fundamental rather than applied research, our work did lead to results of applied nature. A collaboration between prof. R. Podgornik and Gorenje d.d. resulted in a novel patented method for noise reduction in drying machines. Dr. J. Derganc and his collaborators developed a novel device for automated analysis of cells with a broad clinical potential. The researchers were granted a US patent for the device. Also productive was the collaboration of Prof. S. Svetina and dr. J. Majhenc with the Clinical Department of Rheumatology at the University Medical Center Ljubljana, which resulted in a better understanding of the physiological role of antiphospholipid antibodies in the immunology of rheumatism. A further recognition of applied results of the program is the Krka Prize awarded by Krka d.d. to dr. M. Mally for her PhD thesis, acknowledging its potential relevance for pharmaceutical and medical studies. An important aspect of our work is popularization of science. By writing popular science articles, giving public lectures etc. we tried to make the advancements in biophysics and soft matter physics more understandable to the public. We serve in editorial boards of Proteus (www.proteus.si) and Kvarkadabra (society for interpreting science, www.kvarkadabra.net) and are authors or co-authors of more than 50 professional and pop-science articles in Slovenian language. In 2007 and 2008 we co-organized the Researchers' Night in Maribor.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
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Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
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