Research

In living organisms information is transferred and processed using dynamic, non-covalent interactions between proteins and molecular or ionic substrates. The research in our group focuses on the design of synthetic receptors that, similar to proteins, can interact with various biomolecules and can regulate natural signal transduction processes. Supra-molecular structures based on synthetic molecules, DNA fragments, metal-complexes as well as light-harvesting groups are applied in  developing "smart" sensors, drug delivery systems and molecular-based devices.

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Specific projects include the following:

  1. Protein mimicry
    Design of synthetic, self-assembled receptors that can induce and respond to dynamic changes in natural signal transduction processes, in real time.
  2. Drug delivery
    An important feature of drug delivery systems is their ability to release a drug in a particular area of the body (e.g. cancer cells).  In this project, DNA-small molecule hybrids are used as carriers that can release a drug in the presence of oncogenic proteins.
  3. Biosensors
    Developing sensitive, accurate and high-throughput biomolecule detection systems is highly desired in the areas of medical diagnostics, pathogen detection, systems biology, as well as a tool to defend against bioterrorism.

    To sense bio-molecules we use three strategies:

    1. Molecular beacons: We develop fluorescent, DNA-based receptors that can identify specific biomolecules within complex biochemical mixtures.
    2. Combinatorial recognition: We design artificial "noses", inspired by the mammalian olfactory system, which can sense a range of biomolecules using arrays of non-specific receptors.
    3. Molecular logic gates: These are "decision-making" devices that generate digital signals in response to particular combinations of analytes.
  4. Molecular-based devices
    By mimicking the function proteins (the natural machinery), we can explore the possibility of using (nano)machines for regulating biochemical processes.  In this way, we will show how concepts in the field of nanotechnology may be applied to develop new biotechnologies.