Multi-compartment particles for smart molecular release towards understanding the role of molecular gradients from two- and three-dimensional cell/tissue culture models (BIOMOLGRAD2)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Parak
• Subject Area: Analytical Chemistry ; Biomaterials ; Biophysics ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: since 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 268287182

Biologically active molecules and fluorophores responding to distinct analytes will be encapsulated by polyelectrolyte layers, which will be also modified with gold nanostars. After endocytosis , local illumination will open the capsules via photothermal heating and transiently perforate the surrounding lysosomal membrane, leading to release of the encapsulated molecules to the cytosol. This will be performed at the level of individual capsules. With this method distance dependent intercellular signaling will be observed. Inside one cell biologically active molecules will be release, while in another the cell analyte responsive molecules will be released, with allow to quantify the reaction in this cell due to the treatment of the other cell. This methodology will be performed in three dimensional cell/tissue cultures. One example for analyte responsive fluorophores will be smartflares and molecular beacons, which will allow for the detection of mRNA. By switching from gold nanostars to superparamagnetic nanoparticles are from light to radiofrequency generation the application of this technology will be also transferred to thicker tissue, based on magnetothermal instead of photothermal heating.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants