School of Biosciences

Research overview

As a biophysicist I have a keen interest in biological questions with particular emphasis on the nanostructure, nanomechanics and biochemistry of cells and biomolecules, as well as cell adhesion. I have carried out extensive studies on nanostructural and nanomechanical properties of cancer cells, pathogenic Candida yeasts, CHO cells, and stem cells. I have extensively used Reflection Interference Contrast Microscopy (RICM) for the study of the focal adhesion points of adhering live cells.

My main research interests lie in the investigation of the changes in the nanomechanics and biochemical fingerprints of cells during tumorigenesis, the role played by adhesion proteins during extravasation and consequent metastatic process, and the effects of physical and chemical stresses on the morphology, nanomechanics, and biochemistry of cells.

Some of the other topics that I am very much interested in are (a) the development of combined biophotonics and nanotechnolgy tools for cell screening and sorting, (b) the nanomanipulation of cells and biomolecules, and (c) the use of polymers as carriers for drug delivery. These interests brought me to work with (i) oncologists to develop new Raman- and AFM-based tools to discriminate normal from cancer prostate and bladder cells based on the differences in their biochemical, nanomechanical, and nanostructural properties; and (ii) biologists and chemists to investigate the nanostructure of modified DNA and the interaction of polymers and peptides for drug delivery studies. I am also extremely interested in the translation “from the bench to the bedside” for applications in a clinical setup.

Research Division

Molecular Biosciences