Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

ECM Protein Nanofibers and Nanostructures Engineered Using Surface-initiated Assembly
Published on: April 17, 2014
Engineering Aspects of Protein Interactions and Self-assembly
Miriam Linsenmeier1, Paolo Arosio2
1ETH Zurich Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, CH-8093 Zurich.
Abstract:
In the new Laboratory for Biochemical Engineering (LBCE) at ETH Zurich researchers combine principles of chemical engineering with microfluidic technology and biophysical methods to investigate the physical determinants of biomolecular self-assembly in living organisms. In this account, we show the impact of this activity on concrete applications in biomedical sciences and biotechnology. We focus in particular on the field of protein aggregation and phase separation, and we highlight examples in the context of diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and neurodegenerative disorders, cell compartmentalization as well as manufacturing and delivery of therapeutic proteins.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Complex Assembly
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Protein Complex Assembly
Quantitative Aspects of Drug-Receptor Interaction
What is Genetic Engineering?
Protein and Protein Structure
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme...
Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Drug Interactions
Displacement interactions can have varying outcomes, ranging from toxicity to virtually...

