The Center for Nano- and Biophotonics sets up research lines in the area of nanoparticles, microlaser technology and optical switches, biosensors, bio-spectroscopy, scanning of biomaterials, electro-optical particle manipulation and active nanophotonic implants.

By using novel advanced microscopy methods, this project aims at obtaining a more fundamental insight into the
structure and the biophysical properties of nucleic acid nanoparticles in the biological media in which they end up after
administration. More specifically, we will try to (i) better understand the ‘architecture’ of nucleic acid nanoparticles by
superresolution microscopy and dual-color SPT, (ii) increase our understanding of the stability and aggregation behavior
of nanoparticles in full blood, cell lysates and living cells, and (iii) characterize the intracellular transport of such
nanoparticles by microphotolysis, raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) and 3-D dual-color SPT. By providing a
better insight into the stability and transport of nanoparticles during the various phases of the delivery process, this
project will enable a more efficient and rational development of improved carrier materials for the delivery of nucleic
acids.