Light Powered Vs. Fuel Activated Micro-Swimmers: Toward Efficient Self-Propelled Particles For Drug Delivery (M/W)
Universities and Institutes of France
2 Sep 2023
Job InformationOrganisation/Company
CNRS
Department
Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal
Research Field
Chemistry » Physical chemistry
Physics » Chemical physics
Physics » Biophysics
Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country
France
Application Deadline
22 Sep 2023 - 23:59 (UTC)
Type of Contract
Temporary
Job Status
Full-time
Hours Per Week
35
Offer Starting Date
1 Jan 2024
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by an EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer DescriptionKey-words: Active Brownian matter – Self-propelled particles– Light powered microswimmers – Filamentous viruses.
Your Profile: This PhD project is mainly experimental with multiple collaborations providing support and expertise from biochemistry to physics modelling. It is fundamentally interdisciplinary, combining soft matter physics, physico-chemistry, as well as the production and manipulation of biological objects. The candidates should be in possession of, or expect to attain, a Master's in a relevant discipline (Physical Chemistry, Materials science, Physics, Nanoscience, etc). Good skills in written and oral communication in English are important.
Mimicking the properties of life in artificial cells is a current research frontier between biophysics and synthetic biology. Among these properties, reproducing motility and directional swimming is major for understanding the individual and collective behavior of their more complex natural counterparts, while having strong potential for developing advanced therapies. One of the most efficient mechanisms of Brownian particle self-propulsion is based on self-phoretic swimmers that propel themselves by generating a local gradient of concentration, temperature, etc through asymmetric surface properties (Janus particles). These gradients induce surface flows that lead to directed motion. In this PhD project, we aim at designing and developing a new generation of self-propelled particles, either chemically powered by enzymatic decomposition of glucose fuel or light driven by self-thermophoresis, and asymmetrically functionalized with filamentous bacteriophages in order to improve their directional swimming efficiency. The spatiotemporal organization of these fuel and light powered nanoparticles will be studied at the single particle level thanks to advanced optical microscopy techniques in order to characterize their dynamical behavior and to understand individual and collective effects in simple and complex fluids. While addressing relevant fundamental questions, the objective of the project is to establish a proof of concept for the design of self-propelled artificial protocells capable of demonstrating efficient motility, allowing in the long term to solve some drug delivery challenges.
RequirementsResearch Field
Chemistry
Education Level
PhD or equivalent
Research Field
Physics
Education Level
PhD or equivalent
Research Field
Physics
Education Level
PhD or equivalent
Languages
FRENCH
Level
Basic
Research Field
Chemistry » Physical chemistry
Years of Research Experience
None
Research Field
Physics » Chemical physics
Years of Research Experience
None
Research Field
Physics » Biophysics
Years of Research Experience
None
Additional comments
Funding: PopART ANR grant.
Website for additional job details
https: // emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UMR5031-ERIGRE-004/Default.aspx
Work Location(s)Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal
Country
France
City
PESSAC
Website
https: // emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UMR5031-ERIGRE-004/Candidater.aspx
ContactCity
PESSAC
Website
https:// www. crpp-bordeaux.cnrs.fr/
STATUS: EXPIRED