Dortmund, 1st April 2022
Kaja Reiffert (24) is a doctoral student in the Bioimaging working group. In her dissertation, she studies the effects of ultra-small silver nanoparticles on the human body. In order to learn more about her work in the lab, the editorial team asked Kaja to finish the following sentences.
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At ISAS I am working on…
investigating the influence of ultra-small metallic nanoparticles (1-2 nm small) on eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Eurkaryotes are, for example, fungi, animals or plants. Bacteria are prokaryotes.
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This research question is important because…
nanoparticles could potentially prevent bacterial infection in connection with implants in the clinic.
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My theory is…
that ultra-small silver nanoparticles show an enhanced antimicrobial effect, but also cytotoxic activity. This means there is a chance that they kill bacteria, but damage our cells at the same time. I want to find out whether I can modulate this ‘toxic’ activity through a combination of different metals and thus adjust it to eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
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The equipment I use most in the lab is…
the confocal microscope for my analysis of fluorescence-marked nanoparticles.
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My experiments are…
amongst others, so-called vitality assays, the cultivation of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells as well as analyses with microscopes and a flow cytometer. I am always planning new experiments.
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My highlight every day is…
to be able to look back on a productive and eventful day.
Kaja Reiffert is doing her PhD at the University of Duisburg-Essen. The title of her dissertation is “Ultra-small Mono- and Bi-metallic Nanoparticles as a Possible Prevention Strategy of Implant-associated Infections” (Ultrakleine mono- und bimetallische Nanopartikel als mögliche Präventionsstrategie Implantat-assoziierter Infektionen). Her work contributes to the research project “Synthesis, structure, and biological effects of ultrasmall (1-2 nm) bimetallic silver-platinum nanoparticles”. The German Research Association (DFG) funds the project under the number 452179459.