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Project

Large scale microfluidics-based optimization of synthetic biology circuits and cell reprogramming

The study of biology evolves increasingly to the detailed analysis of a single cell. Massive engineering and analysis of single cells represents the final frontier of biology. Solid technology is now available to study the genomic code of a single cell, as well as the messenger molecules (mRNA) it produces. The analysis of proteins, the actual functional molecules in the cell, lags far behind because of technical hurdles. In this project we will use the technological advances in genome engineering (CRISPR-Cas9) to introduce a label that allows high sensitive quantification of a protein of interest in single cells. This will be realized by cell manipulations in tiny channels on a chip (or microfluidics). More advanced designs of such chips will be used to understand and even create novel protein switches (transcription factors) in human cells to change the cell type (e.g. for the generation of a specific immune cell type). The novel chip system will also be used to quantify the proteins expected from the successful cell engineering, which will represent an unprecedented accuracy and an important advance for synthetic biology. The technology developed will have important implications for advanced cell-based cell therapy for various afflictions, such as diseases related to the immune response.

Date:1 Jan 2018 →  31 Dec 2021
Keywords:Microfluidics, Synthetic biology circuits, Cell reprogramming
Disciplines:Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry, Molecular and cell biology, Plant biology, Systems biology, Biophysics