Our research focus
Most cellular and biological functions, such as signal transduction, protein folding, membrane remodelling or even pathogen toxicity, require the concerted activity and self-organization of various biomolecules (e.g. proteins, lipids or nucleic acids). Due to the cellular complexity, however, deciphering basic principles and fundamental physicochemical laws underlying such vital events remains a difficult task.
The Biomimetic Nanotechnology Junior Research Group aims then decipher the structure-function relations of such biomolecular complexes, mainly associated with biomembranes, using bottom-up in vitro approaches. Overall, the group explores cell/membrane biophysics, DNA origami nanotechnology and microscopy methods, to artificially mimic and recreate minimal biological features and pathways from scratch; as well as develop novel responsive nanostructures and tools for targeting/sensing pathogenic biomolecules and cellular/microbial entities of clinical relevance.
![Example of giant unilamellar vesicles, phase-separated supported lipid bilayers and curved DNA origami nanostructures visualized using fluorescence confocal and atomic force microscopies. Figure: Dr. Henri Franquelim / MPI Biochemistry, Dep. Schwille](https://research.uni-leipzig.de/bact/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Henri-Franquelim_unilamellar-vesicles.jpg)
Figure: Dr. Henri Franquelim / MPI Biochemistry, Dep. Schwille
Our Group
GROUP LEADER
![Dr. Henri G. Franquelim](https://research.uni-leipzig.de/bact/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/HenriFranquelin_1-150x150.jpg)
Scientific career
since 02/2022
Junior Research Group Leader for “Biomimetic Nanotechnology”, Research and Tranfer Centre for Bioactive Matter (b-ACTmatter) and Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics (Dep. Prof. Frank Cichos), University of Leipzig, Germany
09/2017 – 01/2022
Senior Postdoctoral Researcher and Project Leader in “Membrane-active DNA origami nanotechnology” (SFB 863), Cellular & Molecular Biophysics Department (Prof. Petra Schwille), Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
09/2012 – 08/2017
Postdoctoral Researcher and Alexander von Humboldt Fellow (2013-2015)
Cellular & Molecular Biophysics Department (Prof. Petra Schwille), Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
10/2007 – 07/2012
PhD in Biomedical Sciences (summa cum laude)
Physical Biochemistry lab (Prof. Miguel Castanho), Institute of Molecular Medicine, Fac. Medicine Uni. Lisbon, Portugal
Dissertation: The role of lipid membranes in the mechanism of action of sifuvirtide and other HIV-1 fusion inhibitors (Advisor: Prof. Miguel Castanho; Co-advisor: Prof. Nuno Santos).
09/2003 – 08/2007
Degree in Biochemistry (Licentiate; honored with merit grants)
Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Thesis: Lipid membranes as a key factor for the efficacy of the HIV-1 fusion inhibitor sifuvirtide
(Advisor: Prof. Miguel Castanho)
Prizes, fellowships and major awards
2018
MPIB Junior Scientists’ Publication Award (JPSA), Martinsried, Germany
2017
Best Poster Award, EBSA/IUPAB Congress, Edinburgh, UK
2016
CeNS Best Interdisciplinary Publication Award, CeNS, Munich
2013 – 2015
Alexander von Humboldt Postdoc Research Fellowship, AvH Stiftung
2011
Finalist of COHiTEC entrepreneurship program (member of team), COTEC & ISCTE, Portugal
2010
Winner of Idea-2-Product Portugal (member of team), COTEC, Portugal
2nd place Idea-2-Product Europe (member of team), RWTH Aachen, Germany
Best YSF Oral Presentation Award, IUBMB Congress, Melbourne, Australia
2009
Best Poster Award, EBSA Congress, Genoa, Italy
2008 – 2011
FCT Doctoral Fellowship, FCT Portugal
2008
BES Award (for best graduate students), Fac. Sciences Univ. Lisbon
Selected publications
- Hartrampf N, Leitão S, Winter N, Toombs-Ruane H, Frank JA, Schwille P, Trauner D, Franquelim HG* (2022) Structural Diversity of Photoswitchable Sphingolipids for Optodynamic Control of Lipid Raft Microdomains. BioRxiv, DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.11.463883. [*corresponding author]
- Franquelim HG*, Dietz H, Schwille P (2021) Reversible membrane deformations by straight DNA origami filaments. Soft Matter, 17(2): 276-287. [* corresponding author]
- Ochmann S, Joshi H, Büber E, Franquelim HG, Stegemann P, Sacca B, Keyser U, Aksimentiev A, Tinnefeld P (2021) DNA Origami Voltage Sensors for Transmembrane Potentials with Single-Molecule Sensitivity. Nano Lett, 21(20): 8634-8641.
- Chattopadhyay M, Krok E, Orlikowska H, Schwille P, Franquelim HG, Piatkowski L (2021) Hydration layer of only few molecules controls lipid mobility in biomimetic membranes. J Am Chem Soc, 143(36): 14551-14562.
- Franquelim HG, Khmelinskaia A, Sobczak JP, Dietz H, Schwille P (2018) Membrane curvature induction by curved DNA-based scaffolds. Nat Commun, 9(1): 811.
- Khmelinskaia A, Franquelim HG*, Petrov EP, Schwille P (2016) Effect of anchor positioning on binding and diffusion of elongated 3D DNA nanostructures on lipid membranes. J Phys D: Appl Phys, 49(19):194001. [* corresponding author]
- Frank JA, Franquelim HG, Schwille P, Trauner D (2016) Optical control of lipid rafts with photoswitchable ceramides. J Am Chem Soc, 138(39): 12981-12986.
- Kaufmann A, Beier V, Franquelim HG, Wollert T (2014) Molecular mechanism of autophagic membrane-scaffold assembly and disassembly. Cell, 156(3): 469-481.
![Journal backcover art reproduced with permission from the Royal Society of Chemistry from Soft Matter, 2021, 17, 411, highlighting the recent research by Dr. Henri Franquelim on “Reversible membrane deformations by straight DNA origami filaments”](https://research.uni-leipzig.de/bact/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/p_henri_research_06.jpg)
PhD STUDENTS
![](https://research.uni-leipzig.de/bact/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Raheye-150x150.jpg)
M.Sc. Rayehe Mamaghaniyeh
Research and Transfer Center for bioactive Matter b-ACTmatter
Deutscher Platz 5
04103 Leipzig
![](https://research.uni-leipzig.de/bact/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Subhasini-4-150x150.jpg)
M.Sc. Subhasini Singh
Research and Transfer Center for bioactive Matter b-ACTmatter
Deutscher Platz 5
04103 Leipzig