Projects

I am interested in designing and using light sensitive molecules to image the dynamics of the brain. With dedicated optical tools, ranging from imaging technologies to nanoparticles, photoactivatable molecules and fluorescent protein based biosensors, I aim to decipher molecular interactions taking place in the brain, in particular in the context of learning and memory.

Current Project: Ultrabright Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles for Deep Tissue Imaging

The objective of the NanoFUNC project is to develop all-organic nanoparticles that are bright, stable, small, versatile, targetable to a structure of interest and spectrally relevant in order to perform live super-resolution imaging in deep brain tissue.

Related Publications

Stealth red-emitting nanoparticles for single particle tracking in brain tissue

doi: 10.1002/adma.202006644

Advanced Materials (2021)

Two-photon absorbing luminescent organic nanoparticles for bioimaging

doi: 10.3390/molecules27072230

Molecules (2022)

Near infra red emitting organic nanoparticles with giant 2-photon absorption

doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c07831

Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2021)

Articulated bis-dipolar dyes yield green-emitting nanoparticles

doi: 10.1117/12.2560140

SPIE Proceedings, Neurophotonics (2020)

Structural Synaptic Plasticity

Dynamics of Endocytosis

Endocytosis in Neurons

During my first postdoc, I used the CRISPR-Cas9 technology to generate a knock-in animal bearing a point mutation in the TIAM1 protein to prevent its interaction with CaMKII, a major molecular player in Learning and Memory.

I also worked on the development of FRET-FLIM sensors to probe the molecular cascades involved in structural synaptic plasticity.

Related Publications

Tiam1-CaMKIII complex in learning and memory

doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.107070

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (2019)

During my PhD, I developped a red pH sensitive biosensor to perform dual colour imaging of endocytosis as well as a combined patch-clamp, imaging and photoactivation paradigm to study the mechanism of action of dynamin, its interaction partners and its precise timming of GTP hydrolysis.

Related Publications

The ppH protocol

doi: 10.1038/s41596-020-0371

Nature Protocols (2020)

Dynamin regulates endocytosis via multimeric interactions

doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12434-9

Nature Communications (2019)

Exchange dynamics of dynamin

doi: 10.1017/S1431927619006937

MSA Proceedings, Microscopy and Microanalysis (2019)

Review: Imaging the dynamics of endocytosis

doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2017.10.010.