Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Synthetic Antigen Controls for Immunohistochemistry
Published on: August 23, 2021
Charge-Controlled Synthetic Hyaluronan-Based Cell Matrices
Patricia S Hegger1,2, Julia Kupka3, Burcu Baykal Minsky4,5
1Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. patricia.hegger@mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de.
Abstract:
The extracellular matrix (ECM) represents a highly charged and hydrated network in which different cells in vertebrate tissues are embedded. Hydrogels as minimal ECM mimetics with a controlled chemistry offer the opportunity to vary material properties by varying the negative network charge. In this paper, a synthetic biology model of the ECM based on natural and highly negatively charged polyelectrolyte hyaluronic acid (HA) is characterized with specific emphasis on its charge-related bioactivity. Therefore, the thiol-Michael addition click reaction is used to produce HA hydrogels with defined network structure and charge density. The presented hydrogels show enzymatic degradability and cell attachment. These properties depend on both covalent and electrostatic interactions within the hydrogel network. Furthermore, no unspecific or specific attachment of proteins to the presented hydrogels is observed. In addition, these fundamental insights into charge-related ECM behavior and the influence of electrostatic properties could also lead to innovations in existing biomedical products.
More Related Videos
11:16In Vitro Investigation of the Effects of the Hyaluronan-Rich Extracellular Matrix on Neural Crest Cell Migration
Published on: February 10, 2023
16:11Protocols for Implementing an Escherichia coli Based TX-TL Cell-Free Expression System for Synthetic Biology
Published on: September 16, 2013
Related Concept Videos
Formal Charges
Ions and Ionic Charges
Synthetic Biology
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...
Atomic Radii and Effective Nuclear Charge
Electric Charges
The English physicist William Gilbert studied the phenomenon of static electricity in...
Charge on a Conductor