Integrating bioelectronics with cell membrane mimics in order to investigate the biological activity of drug molecules

在小分子存在的情况下，细胞膜及其蛋白质成分的特征对于生物传感和治疗应用是至关重要的。在牛津大学，我攻读了计算生物化学的硕士学位，研究神经肌肉接头的跨膜蛋白与小生物活性分子的相互作用，目的是开发神经毒剂解毒剂。自那以后，我一直在帝国理工学院从事研究，对分子生物学与材料科学的结合以及多学科研究方法产生了兴趣。出于这些原因，我自然对欧文斯博士最好的团队以及他们将生物系统与电子设备结合起来应用于整个范围的方法感兴趣。使用PEDOT：PSS作为导电聚合物的有机电化学晶体管(OECTS)具有与生物系统无缝对接的能力，从而提供关于自然环境中这些系统的功能信息。OECTS还能够为生物传感目的提供高度的信号放大和多路传输。通过将生物膜模拟物与OECTS相结合，我打算继续研究膜及其成分，特别是它们的蛋白质成分对环境扰动和与小分子相互作用的响应。这种分析可以应用于抗菌化合物的发现、耐药性的研究以及更广泛的生物传感应用。

The characterisation of cell membranes and their protein components in the presence of small molecules is vital for biosensing and therapeutic applications. At Oxford, I pursued a Master's in computational biochemistry, investigating transmembrane protein interactions with small bioactive molecules at the Neuromuscular Junction with the aim of developing nerve agent antidotes. I have since performed research at Imperial College, becoming interested in the integration of molecular biology with material science and the multidisciplinary approach to research. For these reasons, I am naturally interested in Dr Owens' BEST group and their approach to combining biological systems with electronic devices for a whole range of applications. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), using PEDOT:PSS as the conducting polymer, have the ability to seamlessly interface with biological systems and thus provide functional information about these systems in their native environments. OECTs are also able to provide high degrees of signal amplification and multiplexing for biosensing purposes. By integrating biological membrane mimics with OECTs, I intend to pursue research in the analysis of membranes and their components and in particular their protein components in response to environmental perturbations and interactions with small molecules. Such analysis could be applied to antimicrobial compound discovery, the study of drug resistance as well as broader biosensing applications.