Release of proteases plays a central role in many inflammatory processes both in peripheral organs and in the central nervous system (CNS). Important aspects of the time- and site-dependent effects of the proteases released are still insufficiently understood at the cellular and subcellular level. Therefore, there is a large need for new time- and space-resolved assay methods and technology platforms that allow highly parallel non-invasive analysis of protease activity at the cellular and subcellular level. A synchronous recording of further parameters such as morphology, electrical activity or oxidative stress in real time would be helpful to open up new fields of application in diagnostics and therapy through an even more precise understanding of cell type-specific reactions.

In our research project, we want to develop such a new type of platform technology. Transparent nanostructured biosensors represent a possible solution for the requirements described.
Potentiometric biosensors are easy to miniaturise, non-invasive and have been used very successfully for the detection of pH changes, small metal ions and proteins with high sensitivity and selectivity. New materials allow the production of transparent electrodes, which makes additional marker-free microscopic observation of cell activity possible. This allows the use of well-established optical methods in which modern fluorescent dyes enable the parallel real-time measurement of further parameters such as pH, calcium concentration, oxidative stress, cell cycle or apoptosis.