Linker molecules convert commercial fluorophores into tailored functional probes during biolabeling

Project Information

BIO-LINKER

Grant agreement ID: 101069307

DOI

10.3030/101069307

Project closed

EC signature date 23 March 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 30 June 2025

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 150 000,00

Coordinated by

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DORTMUND
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIO-LINKER (Linker molecules convert commercial fluorophores into tailored functional probes during biolabeling)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Fluorescence techniques are indispensable tools at the heart of basic research, medical diagnostics, cancer research, personalized medicine and drug screening. Their merits are not limited by physical instrumentation (e.g. detectors, light sources, filters etc.), but by the performance and properties of the employed fluorescent probes, i.e. light-absorbing and emitting organic molecules or proteins (both referred to as ‘fluorophores’). All commercially available fluorophores – with a market potential of ~2 billion € per year (annual growth rate of ~8%) – suffer from three fundamental problems: (i) They are dim, undergo fast signal loss and are phototoxic. (ii) For many applications, they additionally require functional properties such as blinking emission1, sensor capabilities or high photostability. (iii) Finally, their use is limited to one specific application.

My lab has developed a solution to these fundamental problems within the context of my ERC starting grant “SM-IMPORT” (2015-2020). In a long-standing collaboration2 with the group of Andreas Herrmann (RWTH Aachen, GER), we established a versatile class of ‘linker’ compounds that allow selective labelling of biological targets in vitro and in vivo with a (commercial) fluorophore, which becomes tuneable in all of its properties via the linker.

In this proof-of-concept grant, I want to explore the potential of our established linker library (Figure 2) for commercial use in biomedicine, industry and academic research.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The initial part of the action (01/24-08/24) was carried out at LMU Munich before the project was moved to TU Dortmund subsequently. In the first period, the researcher and PI worked on workpackage WP1 (Prior-art-search) WP3 (Assessment of sales strategy) and completed those.

In the final part of the project (09/24-06/25), two researchers worked on Workpackage 2 in Dortmund in collaboration with researchers in Aachen. The workpackage included distribution of available linkers SL1/3 & PL2/5 to academic labs optimization of linker properties according to feedback.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Further research goals were identified and started after the project that includes new synthesis work for improved functionality of the linkers.