University of Stuttgart View Institution's Website 8 articles published in JoVE Biochemistry Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy Shuo Wang1, Stephan Nussberger1 1Biophysics Department, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart This protocol describes how to use TIRF microscopy to track individual ion channels and determine their activity in supported lipid membranes, thereby defining the interplay between lateral membrane movement and channel function. It describes how to prepare the membranes, record the data, and analyze the results. Medicine Hemocompatibility Testing of Blood-Contacting Implants in a Flow Loop Model Mimicking Human Blood Flow Antonia Link1, Giorgio Cattaneo2,3, Eduard Brynda4, Tomas Riedel4, Johanka Kucerova4, Christian Schlensak1, Hans Peter Wendel1, Stefanie Krajewski1, Tatjana Michel1 1Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, 2Acandis GmbH, 3Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, 4Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic This protocol describes a comprehensive hemocompatibility evaluation of blood-contacting devices using laser-cut neurovascular implants. A flow loop model with fresh, heparinized human blood is applied to mimic blood flow. After perfusion, various hematologic markers are analyzed and compared to the values gained directly after blood collection for hemocompatibility evaluation of the tested devices. Chemistry Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application Natascha Riehle*1,2, Sibylle Thude*3, Andreas Kandelbauer1,2, Günter E. M. Tovar3,4, Günter Lorenz1,2 1Reutlingen Research Institute, Reutlingen University, 2School of Applied Chemistry, Reutlingen University, 3Fraunhofer-Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, 4Institute of Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology IGVP, University of Stuttgart This study describes synthetic routes for aminopropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxanes and polydimethyl-methyl-phenyl-siloxane-block copolymers and for soft polysiloxane-based urea (PSU) elastomers. It presents the application of PSUs as accommodating an intraocular lens. An evaluation method for in vitro cytotoxicity is also described. Engineering A 100 KW Class Applied-field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Baojun Wang1, Haibin Tang2, Yibai Wang1, Chao Lu1, Cheng Zhou3, Yangyang Dong1, Ge Wang3, Yuntian Cong3, Daniel Luu4, Jinbin Cao2 1Key Laboratory of Spacecraft Design Optimization & Dynamic Simulation Technologies of Ministry of Education, School of Astronautics, Beihang University, 2Key Laboratory of Spacecraft Design Optimization & Dynamic Simulation Technologies of Ministry of Education, School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, 3Beijng Institute of Control Engineering, 4School of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, University of Stuttgart The goal of this protocol is to introduce the design of a 100 kW class applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thruster and relevant experimental methods. Environment Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method Eduard Rott1, Tobias Reinhardt1, Stephan Wasielewski1, Ellen Raith-Bausch1, Ralf Minke1 1Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart This paper introduces a procedure to investigate the adsorption of phosphonates onto iron-containing filter materials, particularly granular ferric hydroxide, with little effort and high reliability. In a buffered solution, the phosphonate is brought into contact with the adsorbent using a rotator and then analyzed via a miniaturized phosphorus determination method. Engineering How to Ignite an Atmospheric Pressure Microwave Plasma Torch without Any Additional Igniters Martina Leins1, Sandra Gaiser1, Andreas Schulz1, Matthias Walker1, Uwe Schumacher1, Thomas Hirth1 1Institute of Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology, University of Stuttgart This movie shows how an atmospheric plasma torch can be ignited by microwaves with no additional igniters and provides a stable and continuous plasma operation suitable for plenty of applications. Biology Specificity Analysis of Protein Lysine Methyltransferases Using SPOT Peptide Arrays Srikanth Kudithipudi1, Denis Kusevic1, Sara Weirich1, Albert Jeltsch1 1Institute of Biochemistry, Stuttgart University Peptide arrays synthesized by the SPOT method can be used to analyze the substrate specificity of Protein lysine methyltransferases (PKMTs) and to define the substrate spectrum of PKMTs to understand their biological role. This protocol describes how to synthesize peptide arrays, methylate them with PKMTs, and analyze the results. Bioengineering Non-contact, Label-free Monitoring of Cells and Extracellular Matrix using Raman Spectroscopy Miriam Votteler1,2, Daniel A. Carvajal Berrio2, Marieke Pudlas2,3, Heike Walles2,4, Katja Schenke-Layland1,2 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Inter-University Centre for Medical Technology Stuttgart-Tübingen (IZST), Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, 2Department of Cell and Tissue Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute of Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) Stuttgart, Germany, 3Department for Medical Interfacial Engineering (IGVT), University of Stuttgart, Germany, 4Institute of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Julius-Maximillians University, Würzburg, Germany Raman spectroscopy is a suitable technique for the non-contact, label-free analysis of living cells, tissue-engineered constructs and native tissues. Source-specific spectral fingerprints can be generated and analyzed using multivariate analysis.