Research
The nanomaterials and biointerfaces lab is a research group led by Dr. Ciro Chiappini in the Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology at King’s College London. The mission of the lab is to blend nanotechnology, bioengineering and cell biology to develop functional materials that direct cell behaviour. Our materials interact dynamically with the intracellular milieu to detect, study and control biological processes at the molecular level. We leverage this controlled cell interaction to engineer platforms for regenerative medicine and precision medicine.
Thanks to Mathis Riehle of The University of Glasgow for sketching our research!
Precision Medicine
Precision medicine aims to provide the optimal treatment for each patient through an improved understanding of the molecular profile of the condition affecting each individual. Equipped with a patient’s molecular profile doctors can determine the best treatment option.
We are developing a novel nanotechnology platform to provide rapid, minimally invasive and reliable molecular profiling of diseases, to overcome current shortcomings that limit the clinical adoption of precision medicine.
Our first step was developing a biomarker-based approach to map tumour marker activity in cell cultures and across the margin area of tissue with a resolution approaching that of a single cell, and with high sensitivity and specificity. Read more.
Tissue Engineering
Engineering tissues ultimately rely on precisely guiding the fate of cells in vivo to recapitulate architecture and function. In fact a great share of the present limitations of regenerative medicine amount to our inability to accurately and precisely manipulate cells in vivo to determine their fate.
We are developing nanotechnology approaches to precisely control cell behaviour in vivo with high space and time resolution.
Our first step was developing a strategy for localised, minimally invasive in vivo intracellular delivery of genes, which led to the engineering of new blood vessels in the muscle of mouse. Read more.
Biointerface
The molecular interactions that control cell fate occur at the nanoscale and nanomaterials can be engineered to modulate the biochemical and biophysical signals presented at those lenghtscales in space and time.
We are developing a set of platforms and tools to study the interaction of nanomaterials with subcellular components, in order to engineer functional biointerfaces.
Our first step was investigating the biointerface of silicon nanoneedles to elucidate the mechanisms of intracellular delivery of nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo. Read more.