CECAD: Malte C. Gather

Research Focus Our Goals Key Publications

Novel Nano- and Biophotonics

Light is one of the most versatile tools known to mankind. Prof. Gather develops nano and micro scale devices that combine light and soft materials to facilitate paradigm shifts in biological understanding and contribute new tools for medical research.

Research Focus

Stimulation probe with 1024 individually addressable organic LED light sources for optogenetic stimulation in the brain [Nature Electronics (2023)]

Research in the life sciences often evolves around specific questions related to the understanding of processes, pathways and mechanisms. However, historically important paradigm shifts in understanding were often triggered by methodological advances in chemistry or physics. An important example is the development of in situ and in vivo imaging tools, as evidenced by three recent Nobel Prizes in Chemistry (2008, 2014, 2017). With this in mind, my team at the Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics (HCNB) aims to perform and catalyse world-class research on nano and micro scale photonic devices and microscopy modalities that provide biosensing, bioimaging and biomodulation functionalities not available with existing technology. We then deploy these tools, frequently in close collaboration with other investigators at CECAD, to further advance ongoing and future research on aging and aging-associated diseases.

By squeezing electromagnetic waves into microscopic volumes and letting them interact with a range of ‘interesting’ materials, such as ultra-soft jellies, glowing proteins, or organic semiconductors, my team performs biosensing, bioimaging and biomodulation in unprecedented ways.

Our Goals

Illustration of the cell implanted laser concept. The unique spectrum of each implanted laser acts as optical barcode to identify individual cells amongst thousands or even billions of other cells.

My team and I work on a range of models and diseases of specific relevance to CECAD.

For instance, we develop tools for optogenetic control of neuronal activity through photonic implants with organic LEDs. We also further advance cell force microscopy (e.g. to study keratinocyte differentiation, mechanical aspects of podocyte injury, forces during the invasion of cancer cells through the ECM, and contractility of cardiac cells and tissue).
Another field of great interest is biologically integrated microlasers which we use as barcodes for cell tracking and as miniature sensors for local changes in cell density and cell force.

Key Publications

Vera M. Titze, Soraya Caixeiro, Vinh San Dinh, Matthias König, Matthias Rübsam, Nachiket Pathak, Carien M. Niessen, Marcel Schubert, Malte C. Gather, “Hyperspectral Confocal Imaging for High-Throughput Readout and Analysis of Bio-Integrated Laser Particles” Nature Protocols (in press) DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.pex-2246/v1
Adriaan J. Taal^#, Ilke Uguz^#, Sabina Hillebrandt^#, Chang-Ki Moon^#, Victoria Andino-Pavlovsky, Jaebin Choi, Changmin Keum, Karl Deisseroth, Malte C. Gather*, Kenneth L. Shepard*, “Single-neuron-resolution optogenetic stimulation in the deep brain with a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor probe containing 1024 monolithically integrated organic LED pixels” Nature Electronics DOI: 10.1038/s41928-023-01013-y (2023)
Andreas Mischok*, Sabina Hillebrandt, Seonil Kwon, Malte C. Gather* “Highly efficient polaritonic light emitting diodes with angle-independent narrowband emission” Nature Photonics 17, 393–400 (2023)
Andrew T. Meek, Nils M. Kronenberg, Andrew Morton, Philipp Liehm, Jan Murawski, Simon J. Powis, Malte C. Gather* “Real-time imaging of cellular forces using optical interference” Nature Communications 12, 3552 (2021)
Marcel Schubert*, Lewis Woolfson, Isla RM Barnard, Andrew Morton, Becky Casement, Gavin B. Robertson, Gareth B Miles, Samantha J Pitt, Carl S Tucker, Malte C Gather*, “Monitoring contractility in cardiac tissue with cellular resolution using biointegrated microlasers” Nature Photonics 14, 452-458 (2020)

Malte C. Gather

Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics

Prof. Dr. Malte C. Gather

Research Areas