Intellectual Merit:
Work from Ribbeck, McKinley and Rubinstein (UNC Chapel Hill) provides new insight and methodology for studying the structure of complex biological gels with numerous length scales, using mucins, the gel-forming polymers in mucus, as a model system. A combination of macrorheology and single-particle tracking was used to investigate the bulk and microscopic mechanical properties of reconstituted MUC5AC mucin gels. In particular, it was shown that macroscopic stiffening of MUC5AC gels can be brought about in different ways by targeting specific associations within the network using environmental triggers such as modifications to the pH, surfactant, and salt concentration. This work is important for understanding how environmental factors alter the mechanical properties of mucus, and likely other natural hydrogels with similar association mechanisms as mucins. Insight from this work also suggest strategies for polymer and crosslink chemistries to generate highly responsive hydrogels.
Broader Impact:
Mucus is one essential biological gel that coats all the wet surfaces in the human body, providing a selective barrier that allows nutrients and information in while keeping pathogens out. Despite its importance for health, there is the general lack of publically available scientific information on crucial facets of mucus functions. Together with STAT (Boston Globe Media) we produced an educational video that outlines the functions of mucus in the context of health and disease. It also shows us in in action at a hands-on workshop on polymer science for children organized by my group at the Boston Museum of Science in August 2017.
