Descripción del proyecto
Desarrollo de vesículas dinámicas con un citoesqueleto artificial
Las vesículas están rodeadas por una bicapa lipídica y sirven como modelos artificiales de membranas celulares. Los científicos del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos SHINEShift se proponen transformar vesículas en estructuras dinámicas capaces de responder a estímulos externos y de resistir a la presión mecánica. Con este fin, utilizarán la química sintética para desarrollar un citoesqueleto artificial dentro de las vesículas formado por túbulos basados en péptidos. Estos túbulos se formarán y crecerán en respuesta a la luz, aumentando así las posibles aplicaciones de las vesículas diseñadas. Además, las metodologías generadas podrían utilizarse en otros ámbitos, como la biología sintética y la ciencia de los materiales.
Objetivo
The most commonly used artificial cell membrane models are vesicles. However, these static structures, consisting of a lipid bilayer surrounding a fluid, are poor in resisting mechanical stress. Enhancing their mechanical properties with a dynamic artificial cytoskeleton will both allow stabilizing their shape and transforming these passive objects into dynamic stimuli-responsive systems. In this MSCA project photo-responsive synthetic supramolecular tubules will be used as an artificial cytoskeleton inside vesicles. My aim is to develop stiff and at the same time responsive tubules based on cyclic peptide design that can grow and generate pushing forces during the fueling step, and disassemble when the fuel stops, both in a fully reversible manner. This cutting edge interdisciplinary project brings together several disciplines in chemistry, i.e. organic synthesis and supramolecular chemistry with colloidal chemistry (and/or microfluidics), and its scientific impact will spread through various fields – from supramolecular chemistry to material science (leap from static vesicles to dynamic ones), and synthetic biology (relevance for future applications in the field of artificial cells). My expertise as experienced researcher in the field of organic synthesis will be applied to the field of dynamic supramolecular systems based on photo-switchable compounds in which the host (Dr. Kudernac) has made notable recent progress. During this training-through-research project I will be able to learn the preparation processes for the vesicles and microscopy techniques that are fundamental for investigating (dynamic) supramolecular assemblies and which will further expand my horizontal skills. In addition, training activities during this fellowship will strongly enhance my leadership and transferable skills. Hence, the Fellowship will allow me to become a distinctive researcher in a highly competitive scientific environment.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencessynthetic biology
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopy
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipids
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EFCoordinador
7522 NB Enschede
Países Bajos