Nanoscale Biophysics Group

Research Program

Scope: Biophysics of lipids and lipid-protein interactions; role of structural changes and physical properties of lipid monolayers and bilayers in controlling biological processes and diseases; application of lipid films in biomedical nanotechnology

Current Research Projects: role of lipid membrane in amyloid toxicity in relation to Alzheimer's Disease; testing amyloid inhibitor drugs using single molecule atomic force spectroscopy, interaction of antimicrobial peptides with lipid membrane and lung surfactant; lipid-based drug delivery systems, developing novel biosensing platforms using lipid membrane and surface enhanced spectroscopy; quantum neuroscience

Methods: Optical, Fluorescence and Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) and AFM-based Force Measurements; Langmuir-Blodgett Monolayer Technique; Surface Plasmon Resonance ( SPR), and Black Lipid Membrane (BLM) techniques.
Research is funded by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Ontario Ministry of Research & Innovation

We are actively looking for commercial partners. Please contact Dr. Zoya Leonenko at zleonenk@uwaterloo.ca!

Sep. 1, 2019Carina Receives Waterloo Pioneers of Microbiology Award!
Congratulations to Carina Filice for winning the 2019 Waterloo Pioneers of Microbiology Award!
Apr. 22, 2019Brenda Receives OUSA Teaching Award!
Congratulations to Brenda on receiving the 2019 OUSA Teaching Excellence Award! The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Teaching Excellence Award recognizes educators who excel at unlocking the potential of Ontario’s young people. OUSA annually presents its teaching awards to professors from each of our member campuses who have taken this role to heart, and who have been selected by their students as examples of teaching excellence.

The news release from OUSA can be found here.
Apr. 16, 2019Congratulations to Brenda on Physics Lecturer Position!
Congratulations to Brenda on being hired as a Lecturer in the Department of Physics & Astronomy! She officially starts on September 1st, and will be teaching a wide range of courses offered by the department.