ABSTRACT
Cell adhesion is intimately linked to the physics and physical chemistry of membranes. In molecular cell biology, the focus has often been on identification of the molecules involved in adhesion, their possible mechanosensitivity and cooperativity, often through active process. However, just the fact that these molecules reside on flexible 2D membranes has an enormous impact on the way they participate in adhesion. In this context, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are ideal vehicles for a bottom-up approach to cell adhesion. One important challenge in biophysics of cell adhesion is to combine physical insight from these simplified soft matter model systems with molecular specificity and activity found in real cells. In this chapter, we review techniques used to observe, quantify and manipulate adhesion. The basics of cell adhesion in nature are discussed, in order to define the capabilities and the limits of GUV technology. The biophysics of membranes and GUV-adhesion is reviewed, focussing on experimental techniques and technological applications.
