Gene regulation enabled by ferro-microgels (C09*)

• Subject Area: Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 191948804

Full and hollow magneto-responsive ferro-microgels containing magnetic nanoparticles and aptamer-signal molecule complexes will be designed to control gene expression of bacteria with fine spatiotemporal resolution. The small signal molecule will be released from the aptamer-functionalized ferro-microgels via external magnetic fields to generate heat or force. This molecule can enter the cell and trigger a ribo-switch to induce translation. The microgels will protect the nucleic acids from nucleases, retain the magnetic particles, and keep local hot spots, created by the magnetic fields, away from the cells.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 985: Functional Microgels and Microgel Systems
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Andreas Herrmann; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Laura De Laporte