Delphine Bouilly and her team assemble circuits and ultra-miniature electronic sensors able to identify and analyze biological macromolecules such as DNA strands or proteins. The Investigators particularly focus on dynamic measurements of individual molecules and their interactions, as well as the identification of biomarkers.
Research theme
Electronic components have reached such a level of miniaturization that it is now possible to build circuits comparable in size to those of biological macromolecules, such as DNA and proteins.
Delphine Bouilly’s Research Unit uses the most advanced nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing techniques to assemble nanobiosensors. These electronic sensors make it possible to isolate up to a single macromolecule in order to follow their interactions.
Through fluctuations in the electric current, these measurements make it possible to follow in real time a succession of chemical reactions, molecular interactions and/or conformational changes in a single macromolecule, while covering a broad spectrum of temporal ranges.
The direct observation of molecular dynamics is particularly promising to decode the fundamental biochemical mechanisms of macromolecules. This knowledge could ultimately translate into applications in the healthcare field.
Research objectives
Delphine Bouilly’s team develops electronic nanobiosensors with the aim of turning them into affordable, compact and multifunction biochemical or biomedical analysis technologies.
Her work more specifically focuses on the dynamics of conformations and interactions of nucleic acids, as well as the identification of biomarkers through antibody-based electronic tests or oligonucleotides.
To do so, her team combines the expertise of student researchers from various fields such as biophysics, physical engineering, biomedical engineering, analytical chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and nanoelectronics.
The purpose of their research is to develop new tools to identify biomarkers associated with various types of cancer, and to better understand the mechanics of basic macromolecules, in order to provide information for drug and treatment design.