Nano-scale probing of cellular membrane constituents and processes
We are developing a “nanoprobe” based toolkit for interrogating fundamental questions of cell membrane biophysics. The particular objectives that will be addressed within this main frame are:
- Establish techniques and protocols based on combinations of scanning probe and fluorescence microscopy that allow investigating physical properties of membrane receptors in living cells
- Make use of surface deposited nanostructures (i.e. nanoparticles, clusters etc) with appropriate biological functionalization in order to functionally interact with the membrane of neurons. Such interactions could be electrical activation of voltage-gated ion channels, photostimulation of light-sensitive channels etc.
- Investigate biological interactions of membrane constituents involved in cell adhesion processes by means of multidimensional probe microscopy of living cells cultured on active nanostructured surfaces
