SUPERCOL

SuperCol is all about developing highly functional colloidal particles for biomedical applications. The particles are of microscopic or even nanoscopic size and are able to interact with organisms at the cellular level. At their surface, they are equipped with bio-active molecules that enable them to bind pathogens and biomarkers, or to detect membrane receptors and induce targeted drug delivery. These functionalized colloidal particles thus hold the potential for powerful diagnostic and therapeutic systems. Think of super-selective biosensors for dengue and cholera; responsive particles to capture and quantify inflammation markers; or particles that release cancer therapeutics such as doxorubicin on demand... SuperCol aims to develop these methods by taking the ‘closest possible look' at colloidal surfaces. Both literally, using super-resolution imaging, and with advanced particle surface (receptor) chemistry. Combining this with advanced modeling techniques, we will arrive at a..