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Achilleas Tsortos

Achilleas Tsortos
Home > Research > Structural Biology, Biophysics - Nanobiotechnology

Achilleas Tsortos

Senior Staff Scientist

I am a Biophysicist, with current research interests (experimental & theoretical) in the areas of
• Biosensors/Biointerfaces: adsorption and detection mechanisms, viscoelasticity of ultrathin films
• Conformation analysis of DNA (-ss, -ds, -ts, Holliday, intercalation, etc.)
• Conformation of Proteins at the solid/liquid interface
• Structure of Lipid Membranes and interaction with antimicrobial Peptides (Liposomes, SLBs)
• DNA/protein interactions at interfaces
• DNA hydrodynamics
Earlier work was done in the fields of
• Biomaterials: calcium phosphate mineralization (e.g. apatite), in vitro crystal growth, kinetics, promotion-inhibition, nucleation at organic surfaces,
influence of protein or biopolymer structure in (bio)mineralization
• Protein Structure: stability, heat-induced denaturation, folding/unfolding
• Molecular Recognition: guest/host & self-assembly systems (SAMs, cyclodextrins, drugs, liposomes)

A variety of techniques is employed such as:
Acoustic Resonators (QCM-D), Ellipsometry, SPR, microCalorimetry (DSC, ITC), ATR-InfraRed, Circular Dichroism, UV, Microscopy (SEM-w/EDX), Zeta Potential, Potentiometric Titrations, Adsorption Isotherms, Viscometry, Constant-Composition (for inorganic crystal growth) and Computer Modelling (numerical methods).