We aim at investigating the individual, minute and possibly unique, differences in metabolism of single cells employing electrochemical scanning probe techniques, specially scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), and synchronous optical imaging techniques, such as fluorescence microscopy.

Our particular interest is on mammalian cell metabolism and mitochondria dynamics and respiration. But we are also interested in other cell models, including prokaryote ones.

Our approach towards electrochemical investigation of biological systems is different from most ones, relying on electrochemistry to modify in a controlled way the chemical environment around individual cells. This will be supported by numerical simulations using finite element method (FEM).

FEM is used to predict the the response and chemical impact of electrodes (SECM) and pipettes (SICM) and optical microscopies are used to report on cellular function and on the real chemical composition around the cells.

If you are interested by these topics, check our openings, or send us a message.