C.T.S.G. Alembic

Description:

Multivalency is the concept of multiple non covalent bonds forming at the same time. This concept is often used in nature and leads to high binding strength, sensitivity and selectivity. This concept can be utilized in a broad range of areas such as drug delivery and sensing.

Supervisors:

Jurriaan Huskens (supervisor) - j.huskens@utwente.nl
Mathijs Damhuis (daily supervisor) - m.a.damhuis@utwente.nl

In this project, the focus is on studying the fundamental properties of a specific multivalent system and seeing how we can influence the binding through different external stimuli such as pH, introducing competing binders and redox chemistry.

The basis of the system is a vesicle composed of DOPC lipids and custom binder-functionalised lipids that need to be synthesized. These vesicles will then be subjected to different stimuli that will, hopefully, lead to different results.

The topic is very broad and can involve the synthesis of functionalised lipids, analysis of assembly formation, method optimization and statistical analysis to name a few.

Research questions involve:

• Can we create custom lipids that allow us to tweak the binding behavior?
• Can we controllably form assemblies in a “perfect” stoichiometric ratio? E.g. perfect 1:1 assemblies;
• Can we investigate the distribution of sizes and binders within individual vesicles using nano flow cytometry?
• Is it possible to investigate these systems using NMR and/or EPR in combination with specific metal ions such as Lanthanides or other NMR active nuclei?
• Can we influence the binding behaviour using external stimuli such as pH, competitors and redox?

Multiple directions can be taken within the topic and the final results will contribute to progressing the field of nanotechnology as a whole by introducing a new, controllable way of creating assemblies.