Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIO-LINKER (Linker molecules convert commercial fluorophores into tailored functional probes during biolabeling)
Période du rapport: 2024-01-01 au 2025-06-30
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.
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.
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.
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.
Further research goals were identified and started after the project that includes new synthesis work for improved functionality of the linkers.