- Dynamic fluorescent nanostructures
One of the current challenges of applied plasmonics is to control molecular configuration around nanostructures as a promising route to drive their functionality. Recently, we obtained interesting results by linking gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with fluorophores through thermo-responsive organic linkers. We found that fluorescence can be reversibly switched by modulating the Au NP/fluorophore distance in response to external heating. Our current research focuses on thermo-responsive polymers, whose thermal sensitivity can be adjusted to a specific biomedical application. In parallel, we extend this strategy to other stimuli-responsive supramolecular interactions like host/guest complexes, for which our team has established synthetic and surface chemistry approaches (Chem. Commun. 2011 ; Dubacheva et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2015 ; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019). We also plan to transfer this concept from solution to nanostructured surfaces using our expertise in surface-sensitive characterization techniques such as fluorescence, electrochemistry, AFM, QCM-D and their in-situ coupling.
Wide modulation of fluorescence, large variety of external stimuli and compatibility with surface confinement should extend potential applications of dynamic plasmonics from solution-based bio-assays to advanced bio-diagnostics and surface-confined bio-sensing.
This project is supported by ANR JCJC SupraSwitch “Hybrid supramolecular/plasmonic switches as luminescence sensors and watermarkers” (2019-2023).
Motivated candidates interested to participate in this study, please contact galina.dubacheva@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr (master, PhD and post-doc positions are open in our team starting from 01/09/2020).
- Bio-produced nanocapsules
Our collaboration with the group of C. Tribet (ENS Paris) and B. Miroux (IBPC Paris) focuses on the bio-production of stimuli-responsive lipidic nanocapsules. We already showed that bacteria can be used to engineer well-defined multifunctional nano-vesicles, which are monodisperse size, can be loaded with functional proteins and display dense array of transmembrane peptides available for post-functionalization (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019). Our current goal is to integrate thermo-sensitive peptides in these nano-capsules and study their temperature-driven responses such as aggregation, drug release and surface targeting. Potential applications include biodiagnostics and protection of active compounds in food and cosmetics.
This project is funded by ANR: PRC GenCaps “Bacterial-based production of Genetically Encoded Responsive Capsules” (2018-2022).
Motivated students interested to participate in this project, please contact galina.dubacheva@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr (master positions are open in our team starting from 01/09/2020).
Recent collaborations:
- C. Tribet (ENS, Paris)
- B. Miroux (IBPC, Paris)
- R. Auzely (CERMAV, Grenoble)
- F. Miomandre (ENS, Paris-Saclay)
- L. M. Liz-Marzán (CIC biomaGUNE, Spain)