University of Durham

William Marsh Rice University

Durham University

Robert Pal

James Mitchell Tour

David Parker

Lizanne Nilewski

Parker David

Junhua Yu

Victor García-López

Victor García López

Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.

Mechanical opening of lipid bilayers by molecular nanomachines

The invention provides a compound of formula (I): (wherein:

Responsive luminescent lathanide complexes

Responsive luminescent lanthanide complexes

The invention provides a compound comprising a xanthone or thiaxanthone sensitizing moiety, capable of coordinating to a lanthanide ion by the nitrogen atom of an integral pyridyl group or a related group able to bind a lanthanide ion.

Growing community of inventors

Durham, United Kingdom

Robert Pal