Physical properties of the cancer cell microenvironment

Physical properties of the cancer microenvironment play important roles in promoting cell invasive phenotypes and can constitute an obstacle for therapy accessibility. We aim at analyzing how biomechanics impact the formation and progression of cancer by measuring physical properties of cancer cells and tissues, using AFM (force spectroscopy and force mapping). Mechanical properties of colorectal … More Physical properties of the cancer cell microenvironment

Probing lipid-protein interaction using artificial membranes

Our recognition in the field of imaging of lateral organization of planar artificial membranes by AFM initiated 2 other projects in the field of membrane homeostasis and remodeling. In collaboration with A. Bertin and D. Levy, we investigated septin,  a cytoskeleton-like protein important for membrane reshaping in a large spectrum of cellular processes. We analyzed … More Probing lipid-protein interaction using artificial membranes

Organization of tetraspanin assemblies

Tetraspanins are ubiquitously expressed at the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells and are associated to membrane remodeling through the formation of a dynamic network of protein-protein-lipid interactions. As membrane organizers, they interact dynamically with other membrane proteins such as members of the Ig superfamily (EWI) or integrins. Tetraspanins are key proteins during infection and cancer. … More Organization of tetraspanin assemblies

Nanoplasmonics

We are exploiting our unique capabilities in terms of DNA nanotechnology and single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy to push the boundaries of single molecule detection, using nanoplasminic devices. First, we started developing dynamic DNA/Gold nano-platforms for the optical sensing of single molecules. The development of such versatile nanostructures has tremendous potential in industrial applications such as … More Nanoplasmonics

AFM/ Superresolution correlative microscopies

The instrumental efforts produced by the team are moving towards the development of correlative, simultaneous and fast scan AFM-fluorescence operational schemes. We are taking benefits from recent development from the JPK AFM company to push towards fast imaging and we can currently image membranes remodeling processes with nm resolution by AFM at one frame/s simultaneously … More AFM/ Superresolution correlative microscopies