High-throughput, real-time binding of membrane proteins on living cells
Official title: Plasmonic Scattering Microscopy for high-throughput in-situ quantification of molecular binding kinetics on single cells
Funded at Biosensing Instrument, INC. · NIH-11394492 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new technology uses plasmonic scattering to measure how membrane proteins on individual living cells bind to potential drug molecules in real time, without labeling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Biosensing Instrument, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tempe, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $920,788 |
| NIH project number | 5R42GM154550-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394492 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients whose diseases involve membrane protein targets and whose cells can be studied with in situ assays without altering native environments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease targets are not membrane proteins or for whom the technique cannot access relevant cell types may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop Plasmonic Scattering Microscopy (PSM) to quantify how membrane proteins interact with candidates directly on single cells and in cell populations. The approach replaces traditional purified-protein methods with an in situ, label-free measurement that captures native membrane contexts. It could speed up biomarker discovery and drug development by providing real-time kinetics at high throughput. The work will advance a potentially transformative tool for evaluating drug candidates in a more physiologically relevant setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from faster development of more effective drugs targeting membrane proteins.
How similar studies have gone: Previous surface plasmon resonance approaches informed this field; the plasmonic scattering method represents a novel adaptation with promising early potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Biosensing Instrument, INC.
Tempe, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ly, Nguyen — Biosensing Instrument, INC.
- Study coordinator: Ly, Nguyen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.