Next generation infra-red glucose biosensors

Glucose is a key metabolite for microorganisms, the most important energy source in more complex organisms and the key product of photosynthesis in plants. It is therefore crucial across the biological sciences to be able to accurately map glucose concentrations in living organisms and cells, as well as in medicine, where monitoring patient glucose levels is vital, particularly in diseases like diabetes. The technology powering blood glucose monitoring devices used routinely in hospitals is electro-chemical, requiring invasive physical sampling. New sensor technology is in development which uses light to measure glucose concentrations. It works using a fluorescent molecular probe which binds glucose and changes the colour of fluorescently emitted light. These biosensors are entirely made of protein so can even be expressed natively in the organism. The problem is that currently these biosensors use visible wavelengths of light which are absorbed by tissues.
This project will develop the next generation of glucose biosensors using infra-red fluorophores. Light at these wavelengths passes through tissues and organisms much more easily and makes the biosensor technology compatible with many other commonly used optical microscopy techniques. Different infra-red fluorophores will be tested and a range of biosensors sensitive to different glucose concentrations will be developed to maximise applicability to different biological problems. Biosensors will be tested in test tubes but also in live cells, including model yeast and mammalian cell lines. Live cell experiments will use standard confocal and epifluorescence microscopy but also cutting-edge super resolution and single-molecule microscopy. Data will be analysed using simple software, with the opportunity to use Matlab and devlop new software tools. Extensive training will be provided, including molecular cloning, protein design production and purification, the design of biosensors, as well as microscopy and image analysis. Thus this project would suit a range of different backgrounds across the sciences. This is a highly interdisciplinary project with potential for real impact in the biological sciences and also potential medical application in patient glucose monitoring.