Most biological adhesive interactions are mediated by macromolecules that create a soft layer between two cells, or a cell and a cell layer. Examples include bacterial or parasite adhesion onto tissues, or blood cell or metastatic cancer cell adhesion to the blood vessel wall. Cell adhesion is a finely regulated, critical process, but often through limited changes in the density or properties of adhesive molecules.
The aim of ANR SofA is to study and model key aspects of cell adhesion across a soft interlayer using soft matter and polymer physics concepts. In particular, the project focusses on understanding how softness of the adhesive surface and multivalent interactions (i.e., several receptors interact with several ligands, giving rise to entropic adhesive contributions) combine to finely regulate cell adhesion based on limited changes in receptor densities or affinities, a concept known as 'superselectivity'.
To achieve this goal, the successful candidate will build on the well-established experimental know-how at the Lab. for Interdisciplinary Physics and the Molecular Chemistry Department, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, to create an in vitro platform to study how cell mimetics adhere to model macromolecular layers as a function of their softness and of the receptor/ligand interactions. Establishing this platform also raises interesting polymer physics questions.
In a second part, adhesion assays will be coupled to physical modelling to understand the key features that control cell adhesion to a soft layer. The coupling between layer softness and multivalency will be the focus of the experimental work and modelling.

- Design, formation and characterization of macromolecular layers with well-controlled biochemical and elastic properties based on chemically modified polysaccharides,
- Development of optical methods to probe interaction with cell models, data (image) analysis,
- Scientific watch of publications related to the project
- Preparation of regular progress reports presented during regular meetings of the project partners
- Writing of one or several scientific papers, participation in national/international conferences in the field of biophysics/soft matter

Grenoble is a pleasant city in the French Alps. It is one of the most renowned scientific areas in France, providing a vibrant and collaborative scientific environment. The Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Physics (LIPhy) at the Grenoble Alpes University brings together researchers in soft matter physics, biophysics, physico-chemistry, biology and optics.
The successful applicant will be hosted in the research group Mechanics of Cells in Complex Media (MC2). He/she will work under the supervision of Dr. Delphine Débarre and Dr. Lionel Bureau, but a strong independence is expected.