Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to study electrochemical and morphological changes related to ascorbate uptake in biological cells.

• Grant number: 25/00212-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 18, 2025
• End date: June 17, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mauro Bertotti
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Alves Damasceno
• Supervisor: Christine Kranz
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ulm University, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/03643-9 - Study of the effect of ascorbic acid on protection against UV radiation in cells through the development of electrochemical nanosensors for localized and real-time detection, BP.DD

Abstract

This research project aims to explore the electrochemical behavior and morphological changes of keratinocyte cells related to the cellular uptake of ascorbate using a combination of nanoelectrodes, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The project will be carried as an internship proposal at Ulm University, Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, under the supervision of Professor Dr. Christine Kranz, through the BEPE/FAPESP Ph.D. program. Nanoelectrodes will be employed to study the ascorbate uptake in skin cells, namely keratinocytes. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques such as AFM and SECM along with hybrid AFM-SECM will enable studies at the single cell level providing high-resolution imaging of the cell morphology and real-time monitoring of ascorbate uptake by keratinocytes, using voltametric techniques to detect the oxidation of ascorbate during the uptake process. Additionally, fluorescence microscopy will be employed to monitor the uptake of ascorbate by the living cells, providing complementary insights into the spatial distribution and dynamics of ascorbate within the cellular environment. Professor Kranz's lab is renowned for its expertise in sensing applications for life cell studies and for developing scanning electrochemical probe microscopy (SEPM) techniques including hybrid AFM-SECM for various applications. These advanced techniques offer a unique opportunity to investigate cellular processes, enabling a deeper understanding of ascorbate functions within skin cells and its potential role in antioxidant therapies.