Our team specializes in the development of cutting-edge chemical tools to enable high-precision biological imaging. By integrating expertise in chemical biology, organic synthesis, and photophysics, we design and optimize small molecule probes that push the boundaries of live-cell and super-resolution microscopy.

Key Research Areas

Fluorogenic Bioorthogonal Reactions for Biomolecule Labeling

Bioorthogonal chemistry allows the selective labeling of biomolecules in complex biological environments. Our team is pioneering the development of fluorogenic bioorthogonal reactions, where two non-fluorescent reagents react to form a fluorescent product. This approach ensures high contrast and spatiotemporal precision in labeling, eliminating background fluorescence and enabling real-time imaging without washing steps. Our work focuses on expanding the toolkit for near-infrared probes and improving the quantification of reaction efficiency, with broad applications in live-cell imaging.

Blinking Dyes for Super-Resolution Microscopy

Super-resolution microscopy has transformed our ability to visualize cellular structures at the nanoscale. We are developing blinking dyes based on the BODIPY scaffold, which exhibit exceptional photophysical properties, including high quantum yields, narrow emission bands, and low toxicity. By fine-tuning their structure, we control their on/off equilibrium, making them ideal for single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). This technique enables nanometric precision in imaging, providing unprecedented insights into cellular organization and dynamics.

Our Approach

• Innovative Synthesis: Design and synthesis of novel fluorescent probes tailored for specific imaging applications.
• Photophysical Optimization: Tuning probe properties to enhance contrast, stability, and compatibility with live-cell environments.
• Biological Validation: Characterization of probes in physiological conditions to ensure reliability and performance.