Our laboratory investigates the development of fluorescent tools for nanoscale imaging of protein aggregates in neurodegeneration, design and synthesis of photoswitchable fluorescent probes for super-resolution imaging, and sensing platforms for amyloid microenvironments.
Recent advances in super-resolution microscopy techniques have revolutionised the nanoscale imaging and study of biological and synthetic nanostructures by breaking the diffraction limit of light. These techniques require fluorophores capable of reversibly switching between bright (on) and dark (off) states. We develop efficient syntheses of photoswitchable fluorophores for super-resolution imaging applications, as there is an immense need for new fluorescent probes with improved properties.
Amyloid aggregates, known to cause a range of neurodegenerative diseases, also play functional roles. To understand how nature harnesses the signature features of amyloids (the cross-β structure) to serve multiple physiological roles we need to develop ways to understand amyloids at the nanoscale. We are developing fluorescent tools that allow for super-resolution imaging of diverse amyloid targets.
Molecular interactions at the nanometre-level critically influence the structure and physiological behaviour of amyloids. We are developing array-based sensing technologies that allow us to unravel subtle differences in the microenvironment of amyloids and understand how these differences translate to molecular, structural and physiological interactions of functional and pathogenic amyloids.
