Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Organic/Inorganic/Materials Seminar Series

Teresa Rapp, University of Oregon
3pm Friday January 30, Willamette Hall 110

Title: Illuminating Complexity: Light‑Driven Control of Cellular Microenvironments

Abstract: Physiological systems are incredibly spatially and temporally complex. From tissue in homeostasis to the complex mechanisms that direct tissue regeneration or disease progression, living tissues are directed by complex signals carried both through the physical support matrix or via gradients of soluble proteins and small molecules. Any disruption to this complex dance leads to a pathophysiological state which is indicated in various diseases, chronic wounds, or tumorigenesis. If we wish to study these disordered systems, we need a platform that affords us control over biological events in both space and time.

Light offers both the researcher and clinician control over biological events in space and time. We leverage the uniquely powerful photochemistry of ruthenium polypyridyl compounds to trigger complex events in biological systems, from changing material environments to releasing small molecules on demand. In this presentation I will discuss our recent advancements in applying ruthenium photolabile complexes as material crosslinkers for mechanistic study of cellular response to changing ECM stiffness and deployment as photocages for important small molecule enzyme inhibitors.