Professor Martin Hegner
Professor, Physics
Professor, CRANN
Biography
Prof. Hegner studied Life Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich in 1984 (CH). He received his Diplom ("master of science") degree in Cellular Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Immunology and Toxicology in 1989 and he completed his PhD thesis in 1994 with work in the field of 'Protein Translocation across Membranes' and 'Biological Scanning Probe Microscopy' at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Institute for Biochemistry in Zurich. In 1994-96 he had a post-doctoral position at the Institute of Physics in Basel in the laboratory of Prof. H.-J. Güntherodt, a pioneer in the field of scanning probe microscopy. Thereafter ('96-'99) he joined the world leading group of C. Bustamante at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Eugene, OR and then at University of California at Berkeley, CA as a research associate to acquire know-ho in the field of single molecule manipulation with optical tweezers. In 1999 he joined the Institute of Physics at University of Basel (Switzerland) as group and project leader for biological nanoscale science within the newly founded Swiss National Centre of Competence 'Nanoscale Science'. Until today he introduced several novel approaches to investigate molecular interactions with nanomechanical tools. In 2001 he received his 'venia docendi' in Experimental Physics at the University of Basel, Switzerland and in 2007 he joined the Physics faculty of the University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin Ireland. He was appointed as Professor and pursues his interdisciplinary research in the Centre of Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN) in the field of Nanobiotechnology.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Brunetti, G., De Pastina, A. and Hegner, M., Quantitative epitope analysis reveals drastic 63% reduced immuno-affinity and 60% enhanced transmissibility for SARS-CoV-2 variants, Nanoscale Advances, 2021
Brunetti, G., Padovani, F., De Pastina, A., Rotella,C., Monahan, A., Hoffman, S., Jongo, S., Abdulla, S., Corradin, G., Pluschke, G., Daubenberger, C. and Hegner, M, Nanotechnological immunoassay for rapid label-free analysis of candidate malaria vaccines, 2021
De Pastina, A., Padovani, F., Brunetti, G., Rotella, C., Niosi, F., Usov. V. and Hegner, M., Multimodal real-time frequency tracking of cantilever arrays in liquid environment for biodetection: Comprehensive setup and performance analysis, REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, 92, 2021, p065001-
Brunetti, G., De Pastina, A. and Hegner, M., apid Label-free Nanotechnological Immunoassay for Analysis of Candidate Malaria Vaccines, Appl. Cell Biol., 2021
Zheng, L.-Q. and Wang, X. and Shao, F. and Hegner, M. and Zenobi, R., Nanoscale Chemical Imaging of Reversible Photoisomerization of an Azobenzene-Thiol Self-Assembled Monolayer by Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 57, (4), 2018, p1025-1029
Duffy, J. and Padovani, F. and Brunetti, G. and Noy, P. and Certa, U. and Hegner, M., Towards personalised rapid label free miRNA detection for cancer and liver injury diagnostics in cell lysates and blood based samples, Nanoscale, 10, (26), 2018, p12797-12804
Padovani, F. and Duffy, J. and Hegner, M., Nanomechanical clinical coagulation diagnostics and monitoring of therapies, Nanoscale, 9, (45), 2017, p17939-17947
Wruck, F., Katranidis, A., Nierhaus, K.H., Büldt, G., Hegner, M., Translation and folding of single proteins in real-time, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 114, (22), 2017, pE4399 - E4407
Padovani, F., Duffy, J., Hegner, M., Microrheological Coagulation Assay Exploiting Micromechanical Resonators, Analytical Chemistry, 89, 2017, p751 - 758
Jadhav V.S, BrÃŒggemann D, Wruck F, Hegner M, Single-molecule mechanics of protein-labelled DNA handles, Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 7, (1), 2016, p138 - 148
Winters S, Berner N.C, Mishra R, DÃŒmbgen K.C, Backes C, Hegner M, Hirsch A, Duesberg G.S, On-surface derivatisation of aromatic molecules on graphene: the importance of packing density, Chemical Communications, 51, (94), 2015, p16778 - 16781
Walther, M.,Fleming, P.M., Padovani, F., Hegner, M., An optimized measurement chamber for cantilever array measurements in liquid incorporating an automated sample handling system, EPJ Techniques and Instrumentation, 2, (7), 2015
Maloney, N., Lukacs, G., Jensen, J., Hegner, M. , Nanomechanical sensors for single microbial cell growth monitoring, Nanoscale, 6, (14), 2014, p8242-8249
Mishra, Rohit , Hegner, Martin , Effect of non-specific species competition from total RNA on the static mode hybridization response of nanomechanical assays of oligonucleotides, Nanotechnology, 25, (22), 2014, p225501-
Maloney, N., Lukacs, G., Ball, S.L., Hegner, M. , Device for filamentous fungi growth monitoring using the multimodal frequency response of cantilevers., The Review of scientific instruments, 85, (1), 2014, p015003
Jensen, J., Maloney, N., Hegner, M., A multi-mode platform for cantilever arrays operated in liquid, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 183, 2013, p388 - 394
Jensen, J. and Hegner, M., Predictions of the Compressible Fluid Model and its Comparison to Experimental Measurements of Q Factors and Flexural Resonance Frequencies for Microcantilevers, Journal of Sensors, 2012, 2012, p258381-
Maloney, N., Lukacs, G., Nugaeva, N., Grange, W., Ramseyer, J. P., Jensen, J., Hegner, M., Fibre Optic Readout of Microcantilever Arrays for Fast Microorganism Growth Detection, Journal of Sensors, 2012, 2012, Art. no 405281
G. Lukacs, N. Maloney, and M. Hegner, Ink-Jet Printing: Perfect Tool for Cantilever Array Sensor Preparation for Microbial Growth Detection, Journal of Sensors, 2012, 2012, p561256-561263
Rohit Mishra, Wilfried Grange, and Martin Hegner, Rapid and Reliable Calibration of Laser Beam Deflection System for Microcantilever-Based Sensor Setups, Journal of Sensors, 2012, (617386), 2012, p6
Hegner, M., Tenje, M., Jeon, S., Nanomechanical sensing, Journal of Sensors , 2012, pArticle number 346062
Ronan Daly, Shishir Kumar, Gyongyi Lukacs, Kangho Lee, Anne Weidlich, Martin Hegner, and Georg S. Duesberg, Cell Proliferation Tracking Using Graphene Sensor Arrays, Journal of Sensors, 2012, 2012, p219485-219492
Jensen, J., Farina, M., Zuccheri, G., Grange, W. and Hegner, M., Quantitative, Label-Free Detection of the Aggregation of alpha-Synuclein Using Microcantilever Arrays Operated in a Liquid Environment , Journal of Sensors, 2012, 2012, pArticle number 874086
Noy, P., Steiner, R., Voelkle, J., Hegner, M. and Fattinger, Ch, Instrument for Label-Free Detection of Noncoding RNAs Journal of Sensors,, Journal of Sensors, 2012, 2012, p208079-
Optical Tweezers in, editor(s)Bhushan, Bharat , Encyclopedia of Nanotechnology, New York, Springer, 2012, pp1981 - 1991, [Hegner, M., Bruggemann, D., Skoko, D.]
Park, K. K., Lee, H., Kupnik, M., Oralkan, O., Ramseyer, J. P., Lang, H. P., Hegner, M., Gerber, C., Khuri-Yakub, B., Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) as a chemical sensor for DMMP detection, Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical, 160, 2011, p1120-1127
Katranidis, A., Grange, W., Schlesinger, R.,Choli-Papadopoulou, T., Bruggemann, D., Hegner, M., Buldt, G, Force measurements of the disruption of the nascent polypeptide chain from the ribosome by optical tweezers, FEBS Letters, 585, 2011, p1859 - 1863
Haas, P.,Then, P., Wild, A., Grange, W., Zorman, S., Hegner, M., Calame, M., Aebi, U., Flammer, J., Hecht, B., Fast Quantitative Single-Molecule Detection at Ultra low Concentrations, Analytical Chemistry, 82, (14), 2010, p6299 - 6302
Nanomechanical Cantilever Array Sensors in, editor(s)Bushan , Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology, New York, Springer, 2010, pp427 - 452, [Hans Peter Lang, Martin Hegner, Christoph Gerber]
Braun, T., Ghatkesar, M.K., Backmann, N., Grange, W., Boulanger, P., Letelier, L., Lnag, H.P., Bietsch, A., Gerber, C., Hegner, M., Quantitative, time-resolved measurement of membrane protein-ligand interactionsusing microcantilever array sensors., Nature Nanotechnology, 4, 2009, p179-185
Huber, F., Lang, H. P., Hegner, M., Despont, M., Drechsler, U., Gerber, Ch., Analyzing refractive index changes and differential bending in microcantilever arrays, Review of Scientific Instruments, 79, (8), 2008, p086110
Grange, W., Duckely, M., Husale, S., Jacob,S., Engel, A., Hegner, M., VirE2: A Unique ssDNA Compacting Molecular Machine, PLoS Biology, 6, (2), 2008, p343-351
Ghatkesar, M. K., Lang, H. P., Gerber, C., Hegner, M., Braun, T. , Comprehenisive characterization of molecular interactions based on nanomechanics, PLoS ONE, 3, (11), 2008, pe3610
Ghatkesar, M.K., Braun, T., Barwich, V., Ramseyer, J.P., Gerber, C., Hegner, M., Lang, H.P., Resonating modes of vibrating microcantilevers in liquid, Applied Physics Letters, 92, (4), 2008, p043106
Ghatkesar, M. K., Rakhmatullina, E., Lang, H. P., Gerber, Ch., Hegner, M., Braun, T. , Multi-parameter microcantilever sensor for comprehensive characterization of Newtonian fluids, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 135, (1), 2008, p133-138
Husale, S., Grange,W., Karle, M.,Bürgi, S., Hegner, M., Interaction of cationic surfactants with DNA: a single-molecule study, Nucleic Acids Research, 36, (5), 2008, p1443-1449
Grange, W., Haas, P., Wild, A., Lieb, M.A., Calame, M., Hegner, M., Hecht, B. , Detection of transient events in the presence of background noise, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 112, (23), 2008, p7140-7144
Nugaeva, N., Gfeller, K., Backmann, N., Lang, H.P., Güntherodt, H.J., Hegner, M., An antibody-sensitized microfabricated cantilever for the growth detection of Aspergillus niger spores , Microscopy and Microanalysis, 13, (1), 2007, p13-17
Park, K.K., Lee, H,J.,Yaralioglu, G.G., Ergun, A.S., Oralkan, O., Kupnik, M., Quate, C.F., Khuri-Yakub, B.T., Braun, T., Ramseyer, J.P., Lang, H.P., Hegner, M., Gerber, Ch., Gimzewski, J.K. , Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers for chemical detection in nitrogen, Applied Physics Letters, 91, 2007, p094102
Braun, T., Huber, F., Ghatkesar, M.K., Backmann, N., Lang, H.P., Gerber, C., Hegner, M. , Processing of kinetic microarray signals, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 128, (1), 2007, p75-82
Watari, M., Galbraith, J. Lang, H.P., Sousa, M., Hegner, M., Gerber, Ch., Horton, M.A. and McKendry, R.A. , Investigating the Molecular Mechanisms of In-plane Mechanochemistry on Cantilever Arrays, Journal of American Chemistry Society, 129, (3), 2007, p601-609
Dorrestijn, M., Bietsch, A., Açikalin, T., Raman, A., Hegner, M., Meyer, E. and Ch. Gerber , Chladni Figures Revisited based on Nanomechanics, Physical Review Letters, 98, (2), 2007, p026102
Ghatkesar, MK; Barwich, V; Braun, T, Ramseyer, J.P., Gerber, C., Hegner, M., Lang, H.P., Drechsler, U., Despont, M., Higher modes of vibration increase mass sensitivity in nanomechanical microcantilevers, Nanotechnology, 18, (44), 2007, p445502
Braun, T., Backmann, N., Bietsch, A., Engel, A., Lang, H.P., Gerber, Ch., Hegner, M., Conformational change of bacteriorhodopsin quantitatively monitored by microcantilever sensors, Biophysics Journal, 90, (8), 2006, p2970-2977
Zhang, J., Lang, H. P., Bietsch, A., Huber, F., Certa, U., Güntherodt, H.-J., Hegner, M. Gerber, Ch., Rapid and label-free nanomechanical detection of biomarker transcripts in human RNA, Nature Nanotechnology, 1, 2006, p214-220
Gerber, Ch. Hegner, M., Meyer, E. , Special issue featuring papers from ICN&T 2006, Nanotechnology, 18, (4), 2006, p040201
Nanomechanical Cantilever Array Sensors in, Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology, Berlin, New York, Heidelberg, Springer Verlag , 2006, pp443-450 , [H.P. Lang, Hegner M. and Gerber Ch.]
Microfabricated Cantilever Array Sensors for (Bio-) Chemical Detection in, editor(s)B. Bhushan, H. Fuchs , Applied Scanning Probe Methods IV - Industrial Applications, Springer Verlag (Berlin, New York, Heidelberg), Applied Scanning Probe Methods IV - Industrial Applications, 2006, pp183-213 , [H.P. Lang, Hegner M. and Gerber Ch.]
Lang, H.P., Hegner, M., Gerber, Ch. , Cantilever array sensors, Materials today, 8, (4), 2005, 30-36
Gfeller, K.Y, Nugaeva, N., Hegner, M. , Rapid biosensor for the detection of selective growth of Escherichia coli, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71, (5), 2005, p2626-2631
Nugaeva, N., Gfeller, K.Y., Backmann, N., Lang, H.P., Düggelin, M., Hegner, M. , Micromechanical cantilever array sensors for selective fungal immobilization and fast growth detection, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 21, (6), 2005, p849-856
Braun, T., Barwich, V., Ghatkesar, M.K., Bredekamp, A.H., Gerber, Ch., Hegner, M., Lang, H.P., Mass sensors for biomolecular detection in physiological environment, Physical Review E, 72, 2005, p031907
Shahgaldian P., Pieles U, Hegner M. , Enantioselective recognition of phenylalanine by a chiral amphiphilic macrocycle at the air-water interface: A copper-mediated mechanism, Langmuir , 21, (14), 2005, p6503-6507
Gfeller, K., Nugaeva, N., Hegner, M., Micromechanical oscillators as rapid biosensors for the detection of active growth of Escherichia coli, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 21, (3), 2005, p528-533
Huber, F., Hegner, M., Gerber, Ch.,Güntherodt, H.J., Lang, H.P., Label free analysis of transcription factors using microcantilever arrays, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 21, (8), 2005, p1599 - 1605
Shahgaldian, P., Hegner, M., Pieles, U., A cyclodextrin Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for enantioselective analysis of thyroxine, Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry, 53, 2005, p35-39
Bertoncini, P., Schoenauer, R., Agarkova, I., Hegner, M., Perriard, J.-C., Güntherodt, H.-J. , Study of the Mechanical Properties of Myomesin Proteins Using Dynamic Force, Journal of Molecular Biology, 348, (5), 2005, p1127-1137
Schoenauer, R., Bertoncini, P., Machaidze, G., Aebi, U., Perriard, J.C., Hegner, M., Agarkova, I. , Myomesin is a molecular spring with adaptable elasticity , Journal of Molecular Biology, 49, (2), 2005, p367-379
Backmann, N., , Zahnd, Ch., Huber, F., Bietsch, A., Plückthun, A., Lang, H.P., Güntherodt, H.J., Hegner, M., Gerber, Ch., A label-free immunosensor array using single-chain antibody fragments, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 102, (4), 2005, p14587-14592
Bietsch, A., Zhang, J.Y., Hegner, M., Lang, H.P., Gerber, Ch., Rapid functionalization of cantilever array sensors by inkjet printing, Nanotechnology , 15, (8), 2004, p873-880.
Bietsch, A., Hegner, M., Lang, H.P., Gerber, C., Inkjet deposition of alkanethiolate monolayers and DNA oligonucleotides on gold: Evaluation of spot uniformity by wet etching, Langmuir, 20, (12), 2004, p5119-5122
Hegner, M., The Basel NanoBio-Network , Chimia, 58, (11), 2004, 788 - 791
Schwarzenbach, M.S., Reimann, P., Thommen, V., Hegner, M., Mumenthaler, M., Schwob, J., Güntherodt, H.J. , Topological structure and chemical composition of inner surfaces of borosilicate vials, PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, 58, (3), 2004, p169-175
Atomic Force Microscopy & Laser Tweezers. Physics meets Biology in, editor(s)Gompper, G., Kaupp, U.B., Dhont, J.K.G., Richter, D. Winkler, R.G. , Matter and Materials, Jülich , Forschungszentrum Jülich, 2004, pp19 , [Engel, A. & Hegner, M.]
Ghatkesar M. K., Barwich, V., Braun, T., Bredekamp, A.H., Drechsler, U., Despont, M., Lang, H. P., Hegner, M., Gerber Ch., RealTime Mass Sensing by Nanomechanical Resonatorsin Fluid, Proceedings of IEEE Sensors, 2, 2004, p1060 - 1063
Arntz, Y., Seelig, J.E., Zhang, J., Lang, H.P., Hunziker, P., Ramseyer, J.P., Meyer, E., Hegner, M., and Gerber, Ch., A label-free protein assay based on a nanomechanical cantilever array, Nanotechnology, 14, 2003, p86-90
Hegner, M. and Grange, W., Mechanics and imaging of single DNA molecules, Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility, 23, (5-6), 2003, p367-375
Research Expertise
Description
Martin Hegner's scientific interests focus on interdisciplinary research in single molecule manipulation, biophysics, bio-diagnostics and development and application of biological sensing devices. Scientific collaborations around the globe and involve also industrial partners such as Hoffmann La-Roche Ltd. Nanobiotechnology will have a deep impact on our daily lives translating laboratory research into products that will revolutionize healthcareProjects
- Title
- Nanomechanical detection of noncoding RNA for diagnosis in biological fluids
- Summary
- MicroRNAs act at the molecular scale and influence the regulation of cellular processes. We have identified specific expression patterns of miRNA relevant to cancer, and infectious diseases and adverse drug effects. We will integrate novel label-free technologies across multiple disciplines to create smart diagnostic systems that significantly improve the identification and prognosis of diseases. Nanomechanical sensing can selectively analyse these molecules in complex biological fluids and offers previously unexplored non-invasive, rapid and more sensitive diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of diseases than current biopsy-based sample collection involving sequencing, amplification and labelling of biomarkers.
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 10-2016
- Date To
- 12-2021
- Title
- Nanomechanics of molecular motors and cantilever array bio-diagnostic devices
- Summary
- Nanobiotechnology provides unprecedented insights into biological processes (e.g. observing a single molecular-motor at work). In addition, advances in nanotechnology allow new devices to be designed that will result in the next generation of fast, sensitive diagnostics approaches applicable to broad ranges of human diseases. These improvements necessitate new methodologies for isolation and detection of minute physiological quantities of biomarker molecules at previously unachievable levels of sensitivity, multi-parameter analysis, speed and reliability. The proposed projects hinge on effective interdisciplinary collaborations. The 'Nanobio' group at CRANN forms a nucleus of interdisciplinary researchers from the areas of physics, biophysics, surface chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology. The application is divided on two major sections, the first describing state-of-the-art-single biomolecule manipulations with optical tweezers and the second describing the utilization of label-free cantilever array sensors devices for basic science and applied diagnostics.
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 04-2010
- Date To
- 03-2015
- Title
- Nanoremedies
- Funding Agency
- HEA
- Date From
- 03-2011
- Date To
- 12-2015
- Title
- ncRNA diagnostics
- Funding Agency
- Hoffmann-la-Roche Ltd.
- Date From
- 01-2011
- Date To
- 12-2015
- Title
- Nanomechanical Thrombosis Diagnostic
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 02-2012
- Date To
- 12-2015
- Title
- Lab on a chip for nanomechnical assays
- Funding Agency
- EI
- Date From
- 02-2013
- Date To
- 03-2014
- Title
- Fast Microbial Growth Detection
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 03-2009
- Date To
- 12-2013
- Title
- H2020 Coordination
- Funding Agency
- EI
- Date From
- 01-2014
- Date To
- 12-2014
- Title
- Nanomechanical Sensing
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 01-2008
- Date To
- 12-2012
- Title
- ncRNA diagnostics
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 01-2016
- Date To
- 12-2017
Recognition
Awards and Honours
Panel Member Volkswagen Research Foundation
Editor in chief EPJ - TI (Springer)
Fellow TCD
Associate Editor; BMC J. Nanobiotech
Stoke's Award - Science Foundation Ireland
Wissenschaftspreis des Kanton Basel Stadt 2004
Member NCCR Nanoscale Science; University of Basel
ELTEM Regio lecturer position in Nanoscale Science
Treubel Stiftung Habilitations fellowship
Human Frontier Science Program fellowship
Swiss National Science Foundation fellowship for advanced researcher
CIBA Geigy fellowship
GSE award for diploma work in biochemistry at ETH
Memberships
Biophysical Society USA