Wi-Pi

Wi-Pi intendeds to develop a new wireless platform of abiotic nanoactuators to probe PIEZO receptors mechanobiology. For this, it will apply molecularly imprinting nanoparticles functionalized with and advanced magnetic nanomaterial to produce synthetic antibodies targeting region-specific sites of PIEZOs ultrastructure for their effective wireless magetomechanical activation. This platform will be applied to uncover the mechanotransduction effects of these receptors in tendon derived cells and to assess its potential as therapeutic targets for the treatment of tendinopathies. Thus, the engineering challenges to synthetize the range of proposed nanomaterials, their respective physicochemical characterization and modelling, and the subsequent testing in relevant biological systems fit well under the scope of the scientific area of Nanotechnology.