Switchable Nanostructured Surfaces as a Sophisticated Tool for Cell Biologists. (360G-Wellcome-091285_B_10_Z)

This proposal is for the development of Switchable Nanostructured Surfaces. These are molecularly well-defined surfaces, which in a highly controlled way can dynamically present biological regulatory signals and stimuli to a cell with nanometre localised resolution. We will exploit principles of self-assembly, molecular shape change and nanofabrication to engineer the tunable biological nanoscale features on macroscopic surface materials. In order to achieve its aim, this project has three centr al objectives: Objective 1 - Development of stimulus-responsive molecular systems for real-time and reversible control of biomolecule activity on large scale surfaces. Objective 2 - Development of a nanopatterning methodology that will allow immobilisation of multiple biologically differing stimuli systems at well-defined and nanoscale locations with a high degree of selectivity. Objective 3 - Test and exploit smart switchable biological nanostructured surfaces to investigate stim ulus-activated calcium concentration [Ca2+]i signalling and cell responses in sperm and how these relate to cell quality .