University of Cambridge

Research

Our main research is focused on understanding all transport processes through membranes of both biological and technological origin. Specifically, we are interested in the physics of ions, macromolecules and particles in confined geometries at the single molecule/-particle level. We thrive to exert maximum control over all parameters in the experiment using techniques like: DNA (origami) self-assembly, optical trapping, particle tracking, fluorescence microscopy, electrophysiology, or micro-/nanofluidics. In parallel, we are always improving and developing new measurement techniques based on a combination of single molecule approaches. Our interdisciplinary team combines people with expertise in physics, physical chemistry, biochemistry/biology, and micro-/nanofabrication.

We are always looking for enthusiastic students and postdocs. If you are interested in working with us, you can find more information on JOBS and TENTATIVE projects below .

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Recent Publications

N. A. W. Bell and U. F. Keyser.
Specific Protein Detection using Designed DNA Carriers and Nanopores.
JACS, published online, 2015. [ DOI | http ]

C.-Y. Li, E. A. Hemmig, J. King, J. Yoo, S. Hernandez-Ainsa, U. F. Keyser, and A. Aksimentiev.
Ionic Conductivity, Structural Deformation and Programmable Anisotropy of DNA Origami in Electric Field.
ACS nano, published online, 2015. [ DOI | http ]

M. I. Walker, R. S. Weatherup, N. A. W. Bell, S. Hofmann, and U. F. Keyser.
Free-standing graphene membranes on glass nanopores for ionic current measurements.
Appl. Phys. Lett., 10:023119, 2015. [ DOI | http ]

N. Laohakunakorn, V. V. Thacker, M. Muthukumar, and U. F. Keyser.
Electroosmotic flow reversal outside glass nanopores.
Nano Letters, published online, 2014. [ DOI | http ]

C. Chimerel, E. Emery, D. K. Summers, U. F. Keyser, F. M. Gribble, and F. Reimann.
Bacteria-specific metabolite of tryptophan, indole, modulates incretin secretion from intestinal enteroendocrine L-cells.
Cell Reports, published online, 2014. [ DOI | http ]

A. Seifert, K Goepfrich, J. Burns, N. Fertig, U. F. Keyser, and S. Howorka.
Bilayer-spanning DNA nanopores with voltage-switching between open and closed state.
ACS nano, published online, 2014. [ DOI | http ]

S. M. Hernandez-Ainsa, , and U. F. Keyser.
DNA origami nanopores: developments, challenges and perspectives.
Nanoscale, published online, 2014. [ DOI | http ]

S. Pagliara, S. L. Dettmer, and U. F. Keyser.
Channel-facilitated diffusion boosted by particle binding at the channel entrance.
Phys. Rev. Lett., 113:048102, 2014. [ DOI | http ]

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