Doctoral Researchers

Supervisors

Mentor: Stefan Diez
Co-mentor: Artur Erbe

My doctoral project explores microtubules as high-aspect-ratio, biocompatible, and cost-efficient templates for creating hybrid nanobio-structures. Owing to their hollow cylindrical geometry (~25 nm outer, ~15 nm inner diameter), stiffness, and chemical tunability, microtubules offer a unique scaffold for nanoscale fabrication.

Building on previous work that achieved gold nanowire formation within microtubule lumens via electroless deposition, I focus on optimizing in situ imaging techniques such as interference reflection microscopy (IRM) and dark-field microscopy to monitor nanowire growth. In parallel, I am developing hybrid systems by loading quantum dots (QDs) and DNA-origami structures into the microtubule lumen to enable programmable optical and electronic functionality.

Additionally, I investigate surface modification of the microtubule exterior through controlled attachment of metal nanoparticles, peptides, and click-chemistry-based polymers to create tunable electronic interfaces.

The ultimate goal is to establish microtubules as multifunctional, motor-driven nanoplatforms for sensing, nanoelectronics, and nanolithography—bridging biological self-assembly with synthetic nanotechnology in a bottom-up approach.