Our research is focused on elucidating the structural requirements of peptides as transmembrane transport-promoting and target-recognizing tools for attached cargos such as peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) and lipid-based carrier systems. One major aim is to improve the transport of molecules from the blood to the brain across the tight cell layer called the blood brain barrier (BBB). Furthermore, we are interested in investigating the structural basis of the microbial selectivity of peptides, and optimizing their antimicrobial activity for selected applications.
The methods we mainly use to tackle the research projects are fluorescence-based approaches on the cellular level such as confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, or capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection. The characterization of lipid-based carriers and of peptide interactions with membrane-modelling lipid systems includes biophysical protocols such as light scattering, fluorescence and surface potential measurements or microcalorimetry and chromatography. These analytical techniques are complemented by toxicity studies in relevant mammalian cells and antimicrobial assays with various bacterial strains.