Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology: Research and Technology Innovation
Activities of LNB are organized in three major research themes, "Electron Microscopy and Diffraction", "Cellular Structural Biology & Multi-scale Bioimaging", and "Mechano-Genomics & Computational Biology". In addition, we provide expertise in technologies such as micro- and nanofabrication, biointerfaces, cellular engineering and light microscopy.
Electron Microscopy & Diffraction
Electron diffraction of biological specimens
We are developing novel methods for visualizing life at atomic resolution using electron diffraction and coherent electron diffractive imaging.
Electron microscopy, EM Facility
The Electron Microscopy and Diffraction group is running the electron microscopy facility of PSI. Method development and implementation are currently focussing on diffractive techniques.
Cellular Structural Biology & Multi-scale Bioimaging
Cellular Structural Biology
Using core stengths in electron tomography and protein bioengineering the cellular structural biology group focuses on analysis of 3D structures of biological macromolecules in the cell, in particular using cryo-electron tomography.
Structural Neurobiology
In the context of research on neurodegenerative diseases, we investigate the structure and function of neurodegenerative amyloid proteins by integrative biophysical methods. Furthermore, we are developing methods for multi-scale imaging of the mouse brain connectome.
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Mechano-Genomics & Computational Biology
Mechano-Genomics
We are investigating mesoscale functional links between cell mechanics, genome organization and gene expression during cellular ageing, rejuvenation and tissue homeostasis.
Computational Biology (in planning)
Recent developments in computational methods, including deep learning techniques, offer unique opportunities towards linking multi-domain and multi-scale biology-raleted data sets.
Technology support and related research
Building on expertise in micro- and nanofabrication, biointerfaces, cellular engineering and light microscopy we are running and supporting projects in different fields including mechano-genomics and protein crystallography.
Cellular Engineering and Microscopy
We are developing novel tools to monitor and quantify trafficking and signalling of receptor tyrosine kinases and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
Biointerfaces
Surfaces for application in biomolecular research range from protein patterns on glass and polymers to micro- and nanostructures and templates for replication in biocompatible polymers.
Ultrasound Mechanobiology
We are developing tools for bio-reated research, including acoustic tweezers for non-invasive intracellular manipulation and an ultrasonic acoustic levitation diffractometer for protein crystallography.