Assoc Prof Nicolas Voelcker

School of Chemistry, Physics & Earth Sciences

Position: Associate Professor

Contact details:

Location: Room 208, Building: 54 (Physical Sciences)

Nearest car park: 9, 7

Teaching

1st year Chemistry

1st-4th year topics within the BSc in Nanotechnology (Honours)

Course coordinator for postgraduate courses in Nanotechnology

Research

Research in my lab focuses on the development of new nanostructured materials with superior properties for applications such as biosensors, biochips, biomaterials and drug delivery. Hence, most of the pursued applications are in the biomedical arena, where the basic target is the improvement of human health.

Biosensors for example allow the high sensitivity and throughput detection of disease markers, genetic information, environmental toxins, drugs etc. In this lab, we are developing interference-based optical transducers from porous silicon to detect biological material.

Biochips based on arrays of DNA spots have significantly contributed to the current understanding of the human genome and proteome. We are currently taking these chips to the next level by spotting real cells instead of DNA or proteins. In a related program, we are developing coatings with switchable, stimuli-responsive properties.

The compatibility of materials to cells and tissues depends not only on the bulk properties of the material itself, but also on the topography at the nano- and microscale as well as on the chemistry on the outer surface of the material. Our particular approach allows us to investigate the effects of both surface topography and surface chemistry of silicon based materials on cell and tissue growth.

My research group is also investigating the fundamental principles of interfacial interactions of proteins, nucleic acids and whole cells. For these studies we employ cutting-edge biophysical tools like atomic force microscopy, fluorescence and interferometric reflectance spectroscopy.

Voelcker Lab link

Professional Organizations/Affiliations

• 2006 - present Member, Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker
• 2002 - present Member, RACI
• 1999 - present Member, American Chemical Society
• 1993 - present Member, Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte

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