AVT - Research - Research project

Biological filter systems have exceptional properties that have not been reproduced in artificial membranes yet. I.e. the glomerular membrane filters 180 l of plasma per day and retains more than 99.9% of the plasma proteins without clogging. In the proposed project, we will undertake an interdisciplinary research effort in order to identify and analyze the relevant biophysical effects that mediate these properties.

Biological filter systems, such as the renal filtration barrier, have exceptional properties. Despite a permeate of more than 180 l of plasma per day, the filter retains more than 99.9% of the plasma proteins and yet never clogs in a lifetime of many decades. Such exceptional properties have not been reproduced in artificial membranes up to date. In our preliminary work, funded by Excellence Initiative, our consortium could show for the first time that electrical potentials are generated across the biological membrane of the renal filter during the filtration process. In a mathematical estimation, we could show, that the generated electrical field is sufficient to influence the permeability of the renal filter for charged macromolecules (i.e. plasma proteins) significantly.In the proposed project, we will undertake an interdisciplinary research effort in order to identify and analyze the relevant biophysical effects that mediate these properties. Our effort brings together young as well as established specialists from the fields of life sciences, chemical engineering, and biomathematics. Micropuncture experiments in a model of an isolated perfused kidney (will be done to analyze the electrical properties of the glomerular filter in mammals. Furthermore transgenic animal models regarding the properties of the glomerular filter will be established and analyzed. In addition, it will be tested if electrical potentials also critically determine the permeability of peripheral capillaries. The electrical properties of isolated biological membranes will also be analyzed and an in-vitro model for biological membranes will be created. In addition the relevant physical effects will be analyzed to generate a mathematical model, which will describe the properties of biological filter membranes with an as yet unmatched accuracy. Finally the results of the consortium will be used to design artificial membranes, which mimic at least in part the properties of biological membranes.