Airway Surface Brush Sweeps Lungs Clean: Polymer Physics Helps Us Breathe Easier

Time: Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - 10:30am - 11:30am
Type: Seminar Series
Presenter: Michael Rubinstein; Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Room/Office: Becton 035
Location:
Becton Seminar Room
15 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
United States

Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering Seminar Series

Airway Surface Brush Sweeps Lungs Clean: Polymer Physics Helps Us Breathe Easier

Michael Rubinstein 
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry 
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

The classical view of the airway surface liquid (ASL) is that it consists of two layers—mucus and periciliary layer (PCL.) Mucus layer is propelled by cilia and rides on the top of PCL, which is assumed to be a low viscosity dilute liquid. This model of ASL does not explain what stabilizes the mucus layer and prevents it from penetrating the PCL. I propose the different model of ASL in which PCL consists of a dense brush of mucins attached to cilia. This brush stabilizes mucus layer and pre- vents it penetration into PCL, while providing lubrication and elastic coupling between beating cilia. Both physical and biological implications of the new model will be discussed.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 
10:30AM Becton Seminar Room 
15 Prospect Street, Room BCT035 
Refreshments at 10:00AM

Host: Mingjiang Zhong