Home

 My research interests


News (in German)

Curriculum vitae

Teaching

Publications and Posters

Our research group

Information for students (in German)

Table soccer

Contact

Links



 In order to explain my research interests in detail, it would take to much space and time. So I have decided to use keywords to introduce my field of studies:
Biological Barriers in Health and Disease
        THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER:

- Development and validation of in-vitro models for:
  Drug transport studies and disease modelling (stroke, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, inflammation)
  •   Relevance and role of different transport routes (passive transport, active transport/efflux mediated by ABC-transporters, pinocytosis)
  •   Tightness characterisation of cell layers (tight junction regulation, development of paracellular markers e.g. APTS-dextran ladder)
  •   Comparison of published in vivo data for BBB permeability of substances with permeability data of our models
  •   Changes of BBB functionality (paracellular, transcellular transport, enzyme activity) under different conditions
  •   The role of the microenvironment (cells such as astrocytes) and shear stress mediated by blood flow on barrier properties in physiologic and disease models
- In silico-in vitro-in vivo correlations of drug transport
- Understanding and characterization of barrier damaging mechanisms
- Therapeutic strategies to stabilize/restore barrier functionality in disease in-vitro and in-vivo models
- Adverse antenatal events and their influence on the development of the blood-brain barrier

THE LUNG ALVEOLAR EPITHELIUM:

- Development of in-vitro models
- Influence of the microenvironment on barrier properties (tight junctions, ABC-transporter, Slc-transporter)
- Influence of hyperoxia on barrier properties and therapeutic strategies to restore barrier functionality

THE KIDNEY PROXIMAL TUBULUS:

- Sepsis induced damage
- Influence of colloids and crystalloids on viability and functionality

THE LIVER ENDOTHELIUM:

- Sepsis induced damage and therapeutic strategies to reduce damage


Mainly used techniques and analytical methods:
Cell culture: primary cells, immortalized cell lines and tumour cell lines derived from several species (human, porcine, rat, mouse)
In-vivo: Mouse models
Analytical methods: HPLC, Capillary Gel Electrophoresis, MS (Maldi-TOF), Fluorimetry
Molecular biology: qPCR, preamplifications, RNA-agarose gels, siRNA knock-down
Protein analysis: Western blotting, Zymography, Immunofluorescence microscopy, enzyme activity tests
Microscopy: CLSM, ESEM, TEM, SEM, AFM

If you want to find out more, just contact me.