Nature-Inspired Self-Assembled Systems and Applications Group

Nature-Inspired Self-Assembled Systems and Applications Group

Sukurta: 21 December 2018
Keywords: Self-assembly, toxin detection, biosensor, phospholipid, membrane, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, neutron reflectometry.

The grouop is focused on development of nature inspired models, in par­ticular, surface tethered phospholipid membranes (tBLM) and membrane-protein complexes exhibiting catalytic activities.

Research group activities

The group addresses problems related to basic life-science as well as applications in biomedicine. In particular, including sensor development for various endogenous and exogenous pathogens. Ultrasensitive detection of microbial toxins.

 

Proposal

We can offer a broad spectrum of technological solutions to reconstitute proteins into the tethered bilayer for structural and functional studies. Bioelectrochemical and Biospectrosco­py techniques and relevant expertise can be accessed by the external users through the standard open access procedures implemented at Vilnius University.

We seek both academic and industrial partnerships to further develop molecular devices based on tethered bilayer technologies and advance basic knowledge in the field of the protein function in biological membranes. In particular, we seek  to establish partnerships with theoretical groups having exper­tise in modelling structures of biomolecules in membranes as well as predicting the dynamic properties of ion carriers in con­fined nano-compartments. Also, we aim to spread our techno­logical knowledge into the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology where the phospholipid milieu is required for functional reconstitution of membrane proteins for structural and functio-nal studies. Joint initiatives for EU and other international fund­ing for research and technology development are also sought-af­ter.

 

Meet our team

Research Group

Marija Jankunec

Rima Budvytytė

Božena Pavliukevičienė

Tadas Ragaliauskas

Tadas Penkauskas

Danutė Kurečkienė

Arūnas Bulovas

Giulio Preta

Kristina Majauskaitė

Gediminas Niaura

Gintaras Valinčius

Audronė Valančiūtė

Izabelė Šuikaitė

Martynas Talaikis

Karolina Čivilytė

Saulius Tumėnas

Viktorija Zaranko

Auksė Rapnikaitė

 

Research outcomes

Most important publications

  • Technological viable solutions for fabrication of tethered bi­layers on metal and/or metal-oxides semiconductor surfaces (Rakovska et al., Langmuir. 2015, 31 846-857 (2015).
  • Analytical and numerical solutions for the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of tethered bilayers (Valincius et al., Langmuir. 28, (1) 977-990, (2012).
  • Expertise in applications of the neutron-based instrumen­tation for the structural studies of self-assembled systems (Budvytytė et al., Langmuir. 29, 4320–4327, 2013).
  • Platform for bacterial toxin detection (Preta et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta-Biomembranes. 2016 1858, 2070-2080).
  • Surface enhanced Raman analysis of self-assembled struc­tures and water state at interfaces (Talaikis et al. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2016, vol. 120, 22489-22499).
  • Long-term projects with research groups at the Institute for Biotechnology and Bioscience Research at the University of Maryland (College Park), Carnegie Mellon University and NIST Center for Neutron Research, Niels Bohr Institute at University of Copenhagen. 

 

Resources

  • Proprietary technology and compounds for the production of the self-assembled molecular anchors and tethered phospho­lipid bilayers (patent application).
  • Wide spectrum of electrochemical and spectroscopy instru­mentation for molecular level characterization of the struc­ture and function of phospholipid bilayers, membrane-protein interaction, detection of membrane-damaging toxins and surface visualization by the fluorescence and atomic force microscopies.
  • Proprietary algorithms and software for the analysis of the electrochemical impedance spectral data of tethered bilayers. 

 

Contacts

Dr. Gintaras Valinčius

Life Sciences Center

Phone: +370 675 33278

E-mail:

More about the center: gmc.vu.lt/en

 

Department for Research and Innovation

Phone: +370 5 268 7006

E-mail:

More information: https://www.vu.lt/verslui/

 

Flyer for printing: Nature-Inspired_Self_-_Assembled_Systems_and_Applications_Group.pdf