(a) Atomic Force Microscopy image of a U87MG lineage cell subjected to a drug treatment that reduces its migration; (b) Fluorescence image of a U87MG lineage cell where actin filaments were marked in red and microtubules in green; (c) K562 lineage cell aspirated with a glass micropipette in order to measure its viscoelastic properties.

CONTACT:
Andrea Alessandrini  (andrea.alessandrini@unimore.it)

Area of interest: HEALTH

TECHNOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OFFERED

Measure of the effects of potential new drugs and physical treatments on cells in culture with nanotechnological techniques (Atomic Force Microscopy for cells in adhesion, micropipette aspiration for cells in suspension).

Study of drug effects on lipid bilayers with nanotechnology and fluorescence techniques.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED RESEARCH

The research concerns the study of mechanical properties of cells in order to correlate them with possible pathological states. Besides, it concerns the role of the mechanical microenvironment on cell behavior.

Research on thermodynamic and mechanical properties of biological membrane models and effects on these by membrane-interacting molecules. The focus is on molecules that may have pharmacological relevance (e.g., neurosteroids and antimicrobial peptides).

en_USEnglish
it_ITItalian en_USEnglish