NMR Spectroscopy

Dr. Martina Vermathen

Born 1965 in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

08/1984	Abitur, “Max-Planck-Gymnasium” Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
1984 - 1989	Study of Food Chemistry. University of Münster, Germany.
08/1991	Graduation in Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Germany.
10/1991 - 06/1995	PhD in Chemistry, University of Münster, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology & Phytochemistry.
03/1996 - 07/1996	Research Assistant, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), USA. In vitro HR NMR spectroscopy on rat brain preparations.
08/1996 - 12/1997	Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), VA Medical Center, USA. In vivo NMR spectroscopy on patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
12/1997 - 11/1999	Postdoctoral Fellow, San Francisco State University (SFSU), Dep. Chemistry & Biochemistry, San Francisco, USA. HR NMR spectroscopy on micellar systems with incorporated porphyrins and benzoates, Synthetic work (tetraphenylporphyrins).
Since 01/2003	Research Assistant. Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland. HR NMR and HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy; responsible for various research projects. Service measurements and maintenance of NMR spectrometers.

Publications	LIST OF PUBLICATIONS M. VERMATHEN
Grants	LIST OF GRANTS M. VERMATHEN

1. Drug delivery for porphyrinic photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT)

	Nanocarriers for topical PDT - Bicelles and their potential as carriers for topical PDT - NMR characterization of structural and dynamic bicelle properties - Skin penetration and cell uptake - Fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging of porphyrins in cells and tissue (collaboration with M. Frenz, Biomedical Photonics, Inst. Applied Physics)
	Polymeric nanocarriers for systemic PDT - Block copolymer micelles, polyvinylpyrrolidone and other materials - Encapsulation of porphyrins into the carrier systemss - NMR characterization of porphyrin-carrier systemse - Reactivity of encapsulated porphyrins towards biomolecules - Photophysical properties of encapsulated porphyrins

2. Porphyrinic photosensitizers and their interactions with model membranes, nanoparticles and cells

- Localization, orientation and distribution of porphyrins within and across model membranes
- Aggregation properties of amphiphilic porphyrins

3. High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) NMR spectroscopy applications (Collaboration with P. Vermathen AMSM, Inselspital, siteminsel)

	HR-MAS NMR based metabolomic studies on cells and tissue samples - HR-MAS NMR investigations of cellular profiles following drug treatment - Cellular uptake of porphyrins by HeLa cells - HR-MAS NMR of porcine skin samples: Porphyrin / carrier uptake; lipid dynamics - Metabolic profiling of protozoan parasites (collaboration with J. Müller and N. Müller, Inst. Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty) - Metabolic profiling of cisPt-resistant cancer cells (collaboration with H. von Tengg-Kobligk, Experimental Radiology, DBMR, Inselspital)
	HR-MAS NMR for the analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in semi-solid pharmaceutical or cosmetic emulsions - Direct analysis of APIs in creams, pastes and ointments - Method development for quantification of corticosteroids in topical pharmaceutical formulations
	HR-MAS NMR based metabonomic studies of apples - Impact of different production systems and storage conditions on the metabolic profile of apples (Collaboration with Agroscope, Wädenswil, CH)