Synthesis and characterization of new recognition elements/receptors of essential biomarkers

The scientific aim of this project is to select short peptides recognizing relevant biomarkers, e.g. troponin T (TnT) – cardiac biomarker or C-reactive protein (CRP) – marker of inflammatory processes, using phage-display technique and to characterize them as a potential alternative to antibodies in biosensors and tests. In this project the phage-display method will be utilized to identify phages/short peptides binding to TnT – cardiac biomarker or to CRP - a marker of inflammatory processes in human body. The identified peptides will be synthesized, characterized, and interactions with their target biomarkers will be studied. The group of Prof. Niedziółka-Jönsson will be responsible for synthesis and optimization of new relevant receptors, whereas the group of Prof. Ebner takes over the responsibility of comparison and in-depth characterization of these receptor ligand interactions at bulk and single molecule level. The synergetic cooperation of these two groups will allow selecting and characterizing phages and synthesized peptides by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and atomic force spectroscopy as well as by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). As a result of this collaborative research we will be able to select, synthesize and characterize new biomarkers which are expected to be more stable and resistant to external factors than available antibodies