Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology

Christian Plank

Biography

The Plank group develops systems for targeted delivery of active substances, in particular nucleic acids. The most recent focus is on developing transcript therapies with mRNA. Equipping delivery systems with magnetic nanoparticles allows remote-controlling and localizing delivery by magnetic force. “Magnetofection”, invented in the Plank lab, greatly improves the efficiency of gene vectors and is therefore used by many researchers worldwide. Magselectofection is a platform for combined magnetic cell separation and Magnetofection in one procedure. A further extension of the Magnetofection concept is its combination with ultrasound-triggered delivery. For this purpose, the Plank group develops magnetic microbubbles. Drug delivery with magnetic microbubbles can be imaged with diagnostic ultrasound in real-time. Upon drug accumulation in a target tissue by magnetic force, an ultrasound pulse can be used to trigger drug release. The Plank group is also engaged in biomaterials science and tissue engineering. Implant materials such as titanium and steal devices (e.g. screws, plates, stents) or collagen or fibrinogen are used to fabricate gene-activated matrices for tissue regeneration.  Work in the Plank lab comprises everything from chemical synthesis (peptide and polymer chemistry, synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles), to biophysical characterization, to exploiting self-assembly in pharmaceutical formulation, to application in cell culture and animal models. Christian Plank is a co-founder of OZB Biosciences, Marseille,and ethris GmbH, Martinsried. He is a member of CeNS (Center of Nanoscience) and "Nanosystems Initiative Munich" (NIM)cluster of excellence.

Research Interest

    Targeted drug delivery, tissue regeneration, mRNA transcript therapy