PhD topics for 2021/2022
For students interested in joining us as PhD students we offer the following general topics for next academic year. For more information don´t hesitate to contact us.
Molecular systems for multiple detection of enzymes inside the cells
Project description:
Regulation of biochemical processes inside a cell is intensively studied area of chemical biology with aim to elucidate relationship between (de)activation of various proteins and cells transformation or apoptosis. The elucidation of this relationship belongs to crucial knowledge in mosaic of factors causing a start of various diseases, mechanism of drugs action, resistance to therapy or e.g. self-regulation processes of cells to prevent a disease development.
The project is focused on development of molecular systems for simultaneous/sequential detection of relevant enzymes inside the cells.
The system will be constructed from peptide linkers for specific interaction with the enzymes and several fluorescent dyes/quenchers. Interaction of appropriate enzyme with specific linker should cause a change of fluorescence characteristic for its presence. Combination of various changes should be characteristic for presence of more enzymes.
Developing skills:
- organic synthesis, mainly solid-phase synthesis
- fluorescent spectroscopy
- enzymology
Requirements:
- experience in organic synthesis
- basic knowledge in analytical chemistry
- basic knowledge in biochemistry
- experience with Scifinder and other sources for literature search
- self-motivation and responsibility for pushing project ahead
Literature:
He, L. et al. Cytometry Part A 2006, 69A:477-486.
Sakamaki, K. et al. PlosOne 2012, 7(11), e50218.
Zhang, X.Z. et al. Chem. Commun. 2015,51, 14520-14523.
Zhang, X.Z. et al. Anal. Chem. 2017, 89, 4349−4354.
Okorochenkova, Y.; Hlavac, J. Dyes Pigments 2017, 143, 232-238.
Drug-delivery systems with releasing visualization
Project description:
Drug-delivery systems play important role in modern chemotherapy approaches. One of the strategies in treatment of various diseases is based on specific releasing of a drug from a carrier in transformed cell. Visualization of this process is important factor of chemotherapy efficiency evaluation.
The project is focused on development of novel systems for delivery of a drug to cancer cells or bacteria with an ability to track the system and visualize the drug releasing. The systems will be based on drug-fluorescent dye conjugate including a linker specifically cleavable inside a cancer cell or bacteria.
Developing skills:
- organic synthesis including solid-phase synthesis
- fluorescent spectroscopy
- molecular biology
- work managing, data processing, reporting, presentation
Requirements:
- experience in organic synthesis
- basic knowledge of structure elucidation
- basic knowledge in molecular biology
- experience with Scifinder and other sources for literature search
- self-motivation and responsibility for pushing project ahead
Literature:
Dewhirst, M.W.; Secomb, T.W. Nat. Rev. Cancer 2017 doi:10.1038/nrc.2017.93
Yuan, Y.; Liu, B.; Chem. Sci. 2017 8(4), 2537-2546. doi: 10.1039/c6sc05421h.