Collagen is the main structural component of the human body. It is found in a wide range of tissues—from strong tissues such as tendons to softer tissues such as skin. The collagen fibres are formed by an intricate process in which collagen molecules self-assemble into structures of increasing complexity. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are human-made chemicals that tend to accumulate in our body. The amount of PFAS present nowadays in human blood is associated with increased health risks. However, currently our knowledge of the mechanism of PFAS toxicity remains limited, which hinders us in minimising the adverse health effects.
We have recently discovered that PFAS can interfere with the self-assembly process of collagen, and are currently investigating this phenomenon. If you want to contribute to minimising the negative health effects of PFAS by investigating how PFAS affects the self-assembly of collagen, and you would like to:
- Investigate collagen self-assembly using UV-visible spectroscopy
- Characterise collagen structure and hydration using IR spectroscopy
- Study a elasticity and liquid-gel transitions of collagen using rheology
- Hone your data-analysis skills
Then send us an email to apply for a BSc/MSc internship!
Supervisor: Sander Woutersen, Giulia Giubertoni, Daan Vos de Wael
More info: d.a.vosdewael@uva.nl
Project type: Bachelor or Master
