Motivation: Cellular Signaling
Communication is a central component of any functioning society. Much as humans have learned to communicate their thoughts and needs with words, cells express similar sentiments to one another using molecules. Biochemical signaling molecules received by cells influence their behavior and the role they play in their “society”. While most cellular communication is innocuous and helps cellular society function, these molecular messages are also involved in the onset of disease. Determining which signaling molecules trigger pathogenesis and understanding how and why these molecules are released is crucial towards preventing disease.
Approach: Upgrading Biotechnology
Standard bioanalytical technologies are incapable of monitoring dynamic changes in cellular signaling molecules with sufficiently high temporal resolution to map the time course of their expression levels. These conventional methods also lack the requisite limits of detection to measure many analytes without time-consuming and costly sample preparation steps. To overcome these limitations, our group has developed analytical strategies to monitor cellular signaling events using novel lab-on-a-chip technologies. Our microfluidic devices enable us to intercept cellular messages and decode their content. Studying biological systems in this manner enhances our understanding of how cellular communication triggers disease in humans.
Projects: Biomedical Research
The analytical biosensors designed in our lab are being applied towards measuring various biological targets of disease. Researchers in our lab are currently working towards improving human health by developing biotechnology in the following areas:
- Microwell array devices to measure proteins for non-invasive diagnosis of respiratory diseases
- Isotachophoretic separations-based sensors to elucidate the role of protein folding in pathogenesis
- Single molecule quantitation of nucleic acids in extracellular vesicles
The analytical methods developed in the Linz Lab are designed to advance basic research science while providing solutions to serious real-world problems. Our projects are currently funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).