Overview

Welcome to the Micro/Nano Soft Interface Research Group

Our research group is called “Project Symphony”, which came from the idea that all of our group members work together in harmony to achieve shared goals. The overall goal of our research is to enhance fundamental understanding of cell membranes and engineer new bioinspired devices. We conduct research at the interface of chemistry, biology, physics, and medicine with a highly dynamic group of interdisciplinary team members. We recruit members who have passion for innovation, excellence, relentless pursuit of success, and ability to collaborate and work in a team.

Our laboratory uses the techniques of surface chemistry and biophysics, and currently has the following active research programs:

Building artificial mimics of cell membranes: Our group builds artificial mimics of cell membranes, both to improve our fundamental understanding of cell membranes, and to engineer new devices inspired by nature. By contacting water droplets immersed in a solution of lipids in oil, we have developed droplet interface bilayers as a platform with unique advantages to help us achieve these goals.
Studying drug-membrane interactions: We use Confocal Raman Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Electrophysiology, and Tensiometry to learn about the detailed molecular structure of lipid membranes and its structural changes upon its interaction with other molecules such as drugs, cholesterol, proteins and nanomaterials. (collaboration with Univ. Chieti, Italy and Univ. Tokyo, Japan)
Crystal Engineering: We create self-assembled structures of molecules at a soft water-oil interface to design the structure of technologically important functional materials and crystals for their use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

Several of our studies take place in collaboration with other laboratories in Japan and Italy.