Objective Cell surface receptors react to a multitude of signal molecules that trigger cellular responses and regulate cell fate. The malfunction of receptors and signals in cells may lead to the development of many diseases, including cancer, diabetes, neurodegeneration or autoimmune disorders. Thus, understanding complex signal pathways is key for future therapeutic approaches and drug development. This project concerns the development of a high throughput microfluidic device for the investigation of early cell signalling, which is triggered by ligand-decorated DNA origami nanostructures, immobilized on a microarray-patterned surface inside the microfluidic device. By combining state-of-the-art top-down microstructuring and bottom-up self-assembly, this approach allows to present ligands on surfaces with a full control of their absolute number, stoichiometry and nanoscale orientation, enabling to closer mimic the natural cell environment. While the principal functioning of origami-based ligand presentation has very recently been demonstrated by the beneficiary, the here proposed implementation in a microfluidic chip will improve surface stability and robustness, as well as allow automated, on-surface assembly and cell culture processes to open the door to multiplexing and high throughput analyses. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discoverynatural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencescell biologycell signalingnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologybreast cancer Keywords Microfluidics DNA Origami Cell signalling Biomimetic interface EGF EGFR Nanoscale organization Breast cancer cells Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE Net EU contribution € 159 460,80 Address Kaiserstrasse 12 76131 Karlsruhe Germany See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
