Nanomedicine
About theme
The mission of this theme is to design and synthesize molecular assemblies, in order to understand and manipulate cellular functions and generate precise solutions for intricate medical challenges in diagnosis and therapy of diseases. Key challenges addressed are: understanding structure and function of molecules and molecular assemblies, and designing biomimetic systems.
Nanomedicine is a rapidly developing area of research that aims to create nanoscale functional units to manipulate cellular processes for use in research, biomedicine, and diagnostics. The theme Nanomedicine forms a multidisciplinary research platform firmly based on expertise in (bio)organic and physical organic chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, supramolecular chemistry, systems chemistry, microfluidics, microscopy, PET/SPECT imaging, single cell technologies, and bioinformatics. The theme concentrates on two lines of research: cellular and extracellular nano-organizations, and precision diagnostics and therapies. Theme members aim to generate and analyze nano- and microstructures for the understanding, and manipulation of cells in biomedicine.
Objectives
- We aim to develop molecular probes and bio-orthogonal chemistry to label biomolecules in living cells with minimal invasiveness and optimal selectivity. Using state-of-the-art imaging methodologies, we study the fate of biomolecules in living cells and organisms.
- We study protein signaling pathways at the molecular level in living cells.
- We study mechanisms and approaches for cellular drug delivery.
- We will investigate the dynamic interactions of cells with their environment/extracellular matrix.
- We will identify and characterize molecular markers for disease associated dysfunctional biological processes and develop methods for their detection.
- We will develop microfluidics platforms to study single-cell behavior in detail.
- We aim to develop bio- and chemo-informatics tools to analyze big data generated by omics platforms more effectively.
- We will develop targeted nanosized carrier systems for cargo transport, delivery and immune regulation.
- We seek to bring chemists, biologists and medical doctors together to create an open research environment in which medical challenges are translated into nanomedicine solutions.
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