Johanna Simon is awarded for her work in the field of nanoparticle-protein interaction. In her doctoral thesis, she examines how nanoparticles – particles with a diameter in the range of a billionth of a meter – behave in human blood. Nanotechnology is currently a promising method for future medical therapies. For this purpose, nanoparticles are functionalized, i. e. their surface is changed so that they can dock at specific places in the human body – for example on a tumor, where they can deliver agents. „The problem here is that these binding sites can be blocked by proteins in the blood and thereby the therapy loses its effectiveness,“ sais Johanna Simon. „That’s why it fascinates me to investigate and understand these complex processes more precisely with modern analysis methods.“
Simon adds nanoparticles to blood plasma. After that, she separates them again from the plasma. Using mass spectroscopic methods, she was able to investigate how strongly which proteins bind to the nanoparticles. In the future, the work can help to improve the development of nanotechnology-based therapeutics.
About Johanna Simon
Johanna Simon was born 1989 in Breidenbach near Marburg. After studying biomedical chemistry at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, she joined the group of Prof. Katharina Landfester at the MPI for Polymer Research in Mainz for her diploma thesis. Today, she continues to work in the department of Prof. Katharina Landfester under the supervision of Prof. Volker Mailänder, professor at the Mainz University Medical Center and group leader at the MPI-P.
Reimar Lüst scholarship
Prof. Dr. Reimar Lüst (* 1923) is a german astrophysicist and science manager. From 1972 – 1984 Lüst was president of the Max Planck Society. In the year 1983, on the occasion of his 60th birthday, donations from german business enterprises led to the creation of a foundation for the promotion of young scientists. The Reimar Lüst Fellowship, financed from this foundation, is awarded annually, and the laureates are personally selected by Prof. Lüst.
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
The Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) ranks among the globally leading research centers in the field of polymer research since its foundation in 1984. The focus on soft materials and macromolecular materials has resulted in the worldwide unique position of the MPI-P and its research focus. Fundamental polymers research on both production and characterization as well as analysis of physical and chemical properties are conducted by scientific collaborators from all over the world. Presently over 500 people are working at the MPI-P, the vast majority of whom are engaged in scientific research.
Contact
Johanna Simon
Phone: 06131-379 723
eMail:
Prof. Katharina Landfester
Direktorin
Phone: 06131-379 170
eMail:
Prof. Volker Mailänder
Gruppenleiter
Phone: 06131-379 248
eMail: