DC12: Microfluidic devices to study microbe-host cell interactions in organoid/spheroids using UCNPs in biological fluids

This project will explore how novel upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) can be used to detect and measure the binding of bacterial virulence factors. Unlike traditional fluorescent dyes, UCNPs are highly stable, resist photobleaching, and operate in the near-infrared range - allowing deeper tissue penetration for more reliable detection. These properties make them ideal for developing next-generation diagnostic tools.

You will gain hands-on experience in nanoparticle synthesis and characterisation, surface functionalisation with biomolecules, and the design of simple optical detection systems to track binding events. As the project progresses, you will evaluate assay performance (sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection) and test rapid-readout formats, including fluidic flow-cell systems that provide real-time binding data.

The project also includes international secondments: at Lund University, you'll explore applications with host/microbe interactions. You will also have a secondment to develop skills in spheroid and organelle culture and while at Selex in the Netherlands, you'll gain experience on translating technologies into real-world diagnostic settings. These secondments might change depending upon how your project develops and the directions that you take.