Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Methods for studying mucin-microbe interactions.

Methods in enzymology·2026

Same author

Mucin-induced metabolic reprogramming in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> clinical isolates.

mSystems·2026

Same author

The selective permeability of mucin hydrogels is modulated by nanoplastic contaminations.

International journal of biological macromolecules·2026

Same author

It's not just snot! : Mucus: Nature's Multifaceted Secretion.

EMBO reports·2026

Same author

Correction to "Glyco-Modification of Mucin Hydrogels to Investigate Their Immune Activity".

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same author

Intelectin-2 is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial lectin.

Nature communications·2026

Same journal

Horizontal transfer of mitochondria in cancer: The physiology reborn in disease?

Trends in cell biology·2026

Same journal

Spindle errors: A stress test for epithelial robustness.

Trends in cell biology·2026

Same journal

Multicellular ecosystems: Linking cellular diversity to tissue function and disease.

Trends in cell biology·2026

Same journal

Orchestrating the signaling-bias at the protease-activated receptor, PAR1.

Trends in cell biology·2026

Same journal

Crashing by design: Utilizing DNA damage for MCC differentiation.

Trends in cell biology·2026

Same journal

The value of a shared lab: Our insights.

Trends in cell biology·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Photodegradable Hydrogel Interfaces for Bacteria Screening, Selection, and Isolation

Photodegradable Hydrogel Interfaces for Bacteria Screening, Selection, and Isolation

Published on: November 4, 2021

Biological hydrogels as selective diffusion barriers.

Oliver Lieleg¹, Katharina Ribbeck

¹Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

Trends in Cell Biology

|July 6, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Biological hydrogels act as selective filters, controlling molecular exchange critical for life. This study explores if their barrier function relies on molecular interactions rather than just size exclusion.

More Related Videos

Ultrathin Porated Elastic Hydrogels As a Biomimetic Basement Membrane for Dual Cell Culture

Ultrathin Porated Elastic Hydrogels As a Biomimetic Basement Membrane for Dual Cell Culture

Published on: December 26, 2017

Microwave-assisted Functionalization of Poly(ethylene glycol) and On-resin Peptides for Use in Chain Polymerizations and Hydrogel Formation

Microwave-assisted Functionalization of Poly(ethylene glycol) and On-resin Peptides for Use in Chain Polymerizations and Hydrogel Formation

Published on: October 29, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Photodegradable Hydrogel Interfaces for Bacteria Screening, Selection, and Isolation

Photodegradable Hydrogel Interfaces for Bacteria Screening, Selection, and Isolation

Published on: November 4, 2021

Ultrathin Porated Elastic Hydrogels As a Biomimetic Basement Membrane for Dual Cell Culture

Ultrathin Porated Elastic Hydrogels As a Biomimetic Basement Membrane for Dual Cell Culture

Published on: December 26, 2017

Microwave-assisted Functionalization of Poly(ethylene glycol) and On-resin Peptides for Use in Chain Polymerizations and Hydrogel Formation

Microwave-assisted Functionalization of Poly(ethylene glycol) and On-resin Peptides for Use in Chain Polymerizations and Hydrogel Formation

Published on: October 29, 2013

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Controlled molecular exchange is vital for cellular and organismal functions.
Biological hydrogels like mucus and the extracellular matrix (ECM) facilitate selective transport.
Understanding the microscopic mechanisms of hydrogel barrier function is incomplete.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize current knowledge on selective filtering by biopolymer-based hydrogels.
To investigate if hydrogel barrier function employs a generic filtering principle.
To determine the role of biochemical/biophysical interactions versus size exclusion in particle transport.

Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of existing research on biopolymer hydrogels.
Analysis of microscopic particle transport mechanisms in biological hydrogels.
Comparison of filtering principles based on molecular interactions and size exclusion.

Main Results:

Biological hydrogels exhibit selective permeability, controlling molecular passage.
The filtering mechanism may involve specific biochemical and biophysical interactions.
Size exclusion alone may not fully explain the selective barrier function.

Conclusions:

Biopolymer hydrogels utilize complex mechanisms for selective molecular exchange.
Understanding these mechanisms is key to comprehending biological transport.
Future research should focus on the interplay of interactions and physical properties in hydrogel filtration.