SPACING project aims to develop a new technology for surface functionalization of colloids with control over the number and the spatial disposition of the ligands. Currently, the we-chemistry methods are not allowing to have this control in the colloids modification. Thus, we propose the production of nanoprinters built with DNA (DNA-origamis) that will serve to precisely modified colloids (i.e. gold nanoparticles, as a model). This technology is expected to be used for any colloid as the nanoprinters can be fully customized.
Upon the development of this technology, colloids´libraries will be developed to study their biological behavior in different models. The systematic study of what is the role of the spatial distribution of bioactive molecules in colloids will allow us to understand better processes involving receptor-recognitions, and some intracellular processes such as the endosomal scape or some recycling process.
We expect that this technology will allow for the development of rational rules for the development of more efficient nanomedicines.
Currently, we have developed some models of nanoprinters capable of transferring to gold nanoparticles a controlled number of DNA strands with a defined spatial configuration allowing us to demonstrate the principle.