Entwicklung einer zeitaufgelösten Tracking-Mikroskopie zur Verfolgung der intrazellulären Freisetzung von Nukleinsäuren durch Lipid-Nanopartikel.

SEMPA-Track stands for "Spectrally Encoded Multiphoton microscopy

The aim of the project is to develop a tracking microscopy in which it is possible to use the fluorescence photons in three ways. In addition to the imaging tracking procedure, the photons are also registered temporally in order to obtain information on the fluorescence lifetime. With this it is possible to determine the physiological state of biological constructs and, for example, to determine the current prevailing pH value. This variable plays a major role, for example, in gene-based vaccines such as the coronavirus vaccine. The conveyance means, by which the mRNA is transported to our cells comprises lipid nano particles (LNP), which must be dissolved in the process by a mechanism in order to release the information contained within (endosomal release). According to the most recent theories, this mechanism is triggered by the pH value. In order to examine this theory, however, the 3D movement of the lipid nano particles must be traceable, in order to obtain time-resolved information with which the pH value can be determined. The entire system thus aims to research the interaction of the LNP with the cell and the erratic path of the LNP and verify whether the release of the mRNA is controlled by the pH value.