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

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 Enhanced Spectroscopy; Novel Biological Applications of Frequency Modulation KPFM (FM-KPFM) Technique
Research is funded by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR), 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!

May 31, 2016Congrats Robbie for Being Accepted to Med School!
Congratulations to Robbie Henderson, our recent PhD Physics graduate, for being accepted to medical school at multiple universities! The Nanoscale Biophysics Group wishes you a successful and prosperous medical career starting at the University of Saskatchewan!
May 3, 2016Brenda Wins Best PhD Seminar at Bio Grad Symposium!
Congratulations to Brenda Lee on having the best PhD Seminar at the Biology Graduate Student Symposium that took place on Friday, April 29th.

The title of her talk was "Binding and Insertion Studies of Antimicrobial Peptide Daptomycin and Derivative CB-182,462 with Model Lipid Monolayers and Membranes".
Apr. 22, 2016Brenda Wins OGS & President's Scholarship!
Congratulations to Brenda Lee on being awarded an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and University of Waterloo's President's Graduate Scholarship (PGS) for 2016!