Photonics on Membranes
Although it is just 4-7 nm thin, the plasma membrane is host to numerous vital processes that govern cellular life. Synthetic bilayer membranes made of phospholipid molecules have been an outstanding tool to emulate cell membrane properties and to study the physical and chemical phenomena that regulate membrane function on the nanoscale. Our research team aims at the development of photonic nanoagents, such as biocompatible nanoparticles and molecular photoswitches, to investigate and control membrane processes with light for applications in bio-engineering and life sciences.
