We have it on our eyes, on our tongues and in our stomachs: a protective layer of mucus that consists mainly of mucins. These molecules bind water and form a natural lubricant. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are using it to develop coatings for contact lenses and intubation tubes, wound healing plasters for the tongue or intestines and more.
The natural lubricant made from mucus molecules – mucins – not only acts as a mechanical protective layer in our body, but also keeps bacteria and viruses away. Oliver Lieleg, Professor for Biopolymer Materials at TUM, and his team use it to develop materials for medical applications. We present selected projects here.