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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 7: Poster Session I
BP 7.12: Poster
Montag, 9. März 2026, 15:00–17:00, P5
Decoupling Crosslink Stability and Network Connectivity in Coiled Coil Crosslinked Hydrogels — Stefanie Lenzeder1, Geonho Song1,2, Isabell Tunn2, Alberto Sanz de Leon2, Tanja D. Singewald1, and •Kerstin G. Blank1,2 — 1Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria — 2Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
Biomimetic hydrogels serve as a powerful platform for investigating how cells sense and respond to the mechanical cues in their environment. Despite significant progress, the precise mechanisms how cells evaluate the elastic and viscoelastic properties of their surroundings remain incompletely understood. While hydrogels are typically characterized based on their bulk material properties, cells probe these materials on the molecular scale through receptor-ligand interactions. Bridging the gap between molecular-scale interactions and macroscopic material behavior is thus essential for advancing our understanding of cell-material interactions. Inspired by proteins found in the extracellular matrix, we are investigating biomimetic hydrogels crosslinked with coiled coil forming peptides. These modular building blocks enable precise control over their molecular characteristics, such as thermodynamic, kinetic and mechanical stability as well as oligomerization state. Our findings show that the bulk material properties are governed more strongly by network connectivity than crosslink stability. These insights deepen our understanding of how molecular design impacts the macroscopic behavior of hydrogels, opening new avenues for tailoring materials for specific biological applications.
Keywords: coiled coil; hydrogel; bioinspired material; polymer network