Christoph A. Naumann Ph.D.

Professor, Chemistry
Co-Director, Nanoscale Imaging Center

Current Research

The main objective of our research program is the design and characterization of biomembrane-mimicking supramolecular architectures and their utilization in selected research projects of biophysical and biomedical significance. Around this central theme, we have developed three complementary research directions: (i) Structure, dynamics, and mechanical properties of polymer-tethered lipid membranes; (ii) Biophysical mechanisms of protein sequestration in well-defined lipid heterogeneities; and (iii) Design of biomimetic cell substrates. This research program is highly interdisciplinary and encompasses the design of complex assemblies of biologically important molecules and the application of single molecule-sensitive imaging methods, such as wide-field single molecule fluorescence microscopy, confocal fluorescence intensity analysis, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. These imaging techniques are available in the IUPUI Nanoscale Imaging Center (NIC), which is located in the School of Science. Associated with our interest in advanced imaging methods, we are also interested in the development of fluorescent nanoparticle imaging probes for advanced optical imaging applications. In addition, in collaboration with researchers in the Integrative Nanosystems Development Institute (INDI), our research group is also involved in the design and characterization of nanomaterials in biomedical research projects.

Select Publications

N. F. Hussain, A. P. Siegel, Y. Ge, R. Jordan and C. A. Naumann “Bilayer asymmetry influences integrin sequestering in raft-mimicking lipid mixtures” Biophys. J. 2013, 104, 2212-2221.

N. F. Hussain, A. P. Siegel, M. Johnson, and C. A. Naumann “Cholesterol-induced buckling in physisorbed polymer-tethered lipid monolayers” Polymers 2013, 5, 404-417.

Y.-H. Lin, D. E. Minner, V. L. Herring and C. A. Naumann “Physisorbed polymer-tethered lipid bilayer with lipopolymer gradient” Materials 2012, 5, 2243-2257.

A. P. Siegel, N. F. Hussain, M. Johnson, R. Jordan and C. A. Naumann “Metric between buckling structures and elastic properties in physisorbed polymer-tethered lipid monolayers” Soft Matter 2012, 8, 5873-5880.

A. P. Siegel, A. Kimble-Hill, S. Garg, R.  Jordan and C. A. Naumann “Native ligands change integrin sequestering but no oligomerization in raft-mimicking lipid mixtures” Biophys. J. 2011, 101, 1642-1650.

A. P. Siegel, M. J. Murcia, M. Johnson, R. Jordan, J. Ruehe and C. A. Naumann “Compartmentalizing a lipid bilayer by tuning lateral stress in a physisorbed polymer-tethered membrane” Soft Matter, 2010, 6, 2723-2732.

S. Garg, J. X. Tang, J. Ruehe and C. A. Naumann “ Actin-induced perturbation of PS lipid-cholesterol interaction: A possible mechanism of  cytoskeleton-based regulation of membrane organization” J. Struct. Biol. 2009, 168, 11-20.

M. J. Murcia, D. E. Minner, G.-M. Mustata, K. Ritchie and C. A. Naumann “Design of quantum dot-conjugated lipids for long-term high-speed tracking experiments on cell surfaces” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 15054-15062.

M. A. Deverall, S. Garg, K. Luedtke, R. Jordan, J. Ruehe and C. A. Naumann “Transbilayer coupling of obstructed diffusion in polymer-tethered phospholipid bilayers” Soft Matter 2008, 4, 1899-1908.

K. Luedke, R. Jordan, N. Furr, S. Garg, K. Forsythe and C. A. Naumann “Two-dimensional center-of-mass diffusion of lipid-tethered poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) at the air-water interface” Langmuir 2008, 24, 5580-5584.

M. J. Murcia, D. L. Shaw, E. C. Long and C. A. Naumann “Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy of CdSe/ZnS quantum dot optical bioimaging probes with ultra-thin biocompatible coatings” Opt. Comm. 2008, 281, 1771-1780.

S. Garg, J. Ruehe, K. Luedtke, R. Jordan and C. A. Naumann "Domain registration in raft-mimicking lipid mixtures studied using polymer- tethered lipid bilayers" Biophys. J. 2007, 92, 1263-1270.

M.J. Murcia, D. L. Shaw, H. Woodruff, C. A. Naumann, B. Young and E. C. Long "Facile sonochemical synthesis of highly luminescent ZnS- shelled CdSe quantum dots" Chem. Mater. 2006, 18, 2219-2225.

M. A. Deverall, E. Gindl, E.-K. Sinner, H. Besir, J. Ruehe, M. J. Saxton and C. A. Naumann "Membrane lateral mobility obstructed by polymer-tethered lipids studied at the single molecule level" Biophys. J. 2005, 88, 1875-1886.