Profiling of drug candidates and materials in biological systems

The aim of the project is to understand how new active molecules and materials behave when they meet cells of our body. At first, this is evaluated on cells cultured for research. The focus of the project is on how molecules affect the transport function of membrane transporters. Membrane transporter move vital substances in and out of cells and maintain the normal function of cells. Drugs are also moved by membrane transporters, and this affect the activity of the drugs. Therefore, one element of the project is to find molecules that can safely be used to increase the ability of drugs to enter e.g. cancer cells. Moreover, we will investigate how new antibiotics interacts with membrane proteins such as efflux transporters and ion channels in order to develop safe antibiotics of the future.