Molecular Biophysics and Mathematical models in biology

Group Leader: CS II dr. Alina Asandei

The Molecular Biophysics and mathematical models Group interest focuses on a variety of research domains, such as:

Molecular approach to understanding interactions between membrane-active peptides and biomimetic membranes
‘Single-molecule chemistry’ and ‘stochasting sensing’ with protein nanopores as an alternative to conventional antibiotics, amyloid-beta peptides responsible in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson), dendrimers as targeted drug-carrier delivery systems
Peptides-protein interactions
DNA molecules and their synthetic analogs (PNA – peptide nucleic acid) as detection systems for inframicrobial pathogens (e.g., H1N1, SARS-CoV2)
Virtual instrumentation
Cell membrane biomimetics to investigate molecular mechanisms of peptide-lipid interactions. Cell membranes are reconstituted as giant unliamellar vesicles (GUVs) from lipids or cell membrane extracts. Transmembrane receptors like integrins can also be reconstituted in the biomimetic membranes. Membrane active peptides include cell penetrating peptides, antimicrobial peptides and penetrating homing peptides. Understanding their mechanism of interaction with lipid membranes and membrane receptors is fundamental for developing of new molecules with therapeutic and/or diagnostic properties.
Study of molecular interactions with advanced high resolution microscopy and single molecule imaging. Techniques: Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (CLSM), Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRF), Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching (FRAP), Single Molecule Microscopy (SMM).

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