Kinetics of Cell Adhesion Through Biomimetic Glycocalyx*

Giant polysaccharides grafted to the external cell surface interfere with receptor-ligand binding and can strain molecular bonds. This is relevant in cell-matrix interactions during cell migration as well as in cell-cell interactions, such as T-cell immune response. We introduce a biomimetic glycocalyx platform to investigate the kinetics of cell adhesion in the presence of sugar-rich interfaces. With this approach, we study the mechanisms by which cells penetrate the thick polymer brush-like interface and how this process depends on initial brush thickness.