The cell, as the smallest structural and functional unit of all living organisms, is a fascinating system in view of highly complex and hierarchical machinery.
Integrins are transmembrane receptors that bind to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and sense its physico-chemical properties to regulate cell adhesion, polarization, migration, differentiation and survival. The integrin family in mammalian cells consists of 24 distinct heterodimeric receptors with distinct ligand-binding and signalling specificities. Although new technologies and analytical tools tremendously improved our understanding of integrin functions, the manipulation of cell activity derived from distinct integrins and their cooperation with other cell-surface receptors remains challenging.
To address these points, we focused our effort on the design of functional surfaces to engage cell surface receptors in-vitro by ligating receptor-binding molecules onto hexagonally-organized inorganic nanoparticles that allow controlling ligand-density, receptor spacing and cell shape. We already established several micro/nano-fabrication methods, such as micellar nanolithography combined to UV-lithography, to routinely synthesize substrates made of immobilized gold and/or titanium oxide nanoparticles.

The project aims at 1) expanding our toolbox to design micropatterned gold - titanium dioxide nanoarrays with different particle densities, 2) establishing a strategy to modify the surface of each nanoparticle population with distinct receptor-binding ligands and 3) testing these surfaces on various cell lines to manipulate and study integrin-mediated spreading, contractility and migration while cooperating or not with other receptors.

The applicant should have keen interest to work in an interdisciplinary team. Knowledge in chemistry and/or biochemistry is desirable. The project can be started immediately. This work will be conducted in the department of Molecular Medicine directed by Reinhard Fässler and financed with a Max Planck student fellowship (1365 euros/month).
Dr. Julien Polleux
polleux@biochem.mpg.de
Max Planck Institute
Martinsried, near Munich

Ansprechpartner: Dr. Polleux, polleux@biochem.mpg.de