Nanovip All things Nanotechnology – Nano Is The Futiure
Development of Integrated Multifunctional Nanosystems for Single-Cell Experimentation and Assays
University of Birmingham
Paula Mendes and Frankie Rawson
Contact p.m.mendes@bham.ac.uk or f.j.rawson@bham.ac.uk
Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionise our understanding and control of a biological cell’s function, and therefore, there has recently been a heightened interest in the integration of synthetic, nanostructured materials with biological systems. This field is in its infancy, and these nanostructured materials are lacking such essentials as (i) direct interface with the appropriate biomolecular processes both with membrane bound sites and within the cell itself, (ii) the ability to permit independent control of different biological cues on demand, affording truly multifunctional nanosystems, and (iii) the ability to provide transduction of responses with both spatial and temporal resolution, all performed without adversely affecting cell viability or functionality. This project seeks to tackle this ambitious challenge using an interdisciplinary approach that combines nanochemistry, electrochemistry, biochemistry and nanolithography. Development of this technology promises many breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of basic cellular processes that is of critical importance for many medical and biotechnological applications.
References
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P. M. Mendes. Stimuli-responsive surfaces for bio-applications. Chemical Society Reviews, 37, 2008, 2361-2580.
F. J. Rawson, D. J. Garrett, D. Leech, A. J. Downard, K. H.R. Baronian. Electron transfer from Proteus vulgaris to a covalently assembled, single walled carbon nanotube electrode functionalised with osmium bipyridine complex: Application to a whole cell biosensor. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 26, 2011, 2383-2389.
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