Phage-Enhanced Phototherapy for Severe Infections of the Skin

The Laboratoire Lorrain de Chimie Moléculaire (L2CM, UMR 7053) is a joint research unit of Université de Lorraine and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), located in Nancy, France. Established in 2018, the laboratory brings together approximately 40 permanent researchers and 20 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

L2CM is a multidisciplinary research laboratory covering organic and organometallic chemistry, coordination chemistry, catalysis, physical chemistry and chemistry for life sciences. Its research is centred on the design, synthesis and characterization of molecular systems, from their preparation to the study of their chemical, physical and biological properties.

The laboratory promotes strong interactions between complementary scientific disciplines, fostering research projects at the interface of chemistry, biology, materials science and medicine, with applications in major societal challenges including health, energy and the environment.

L2CM hosts several research teams and dedicated scientific platforms, providing access to expertise and advanced facilities for molecular synthesis, biological applications, mass spectrometry and photochemistry.

Duration: A January–July 2027 internship is preferred, but other six-month periods can also be considered to accommodate the candidate’s academic schedule.

Host laboratory: Laboratoire Lorrain de Chimie Moléculaire (L2CM), Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France

Supervisors: Dr. Florence Dumarçay-Charbonnier & Dr. Mihayl Varbanov

Background

Severe bacterial skin infections, particularly those involving multidrug-resistant bacteria, can rapidly progress to sepsis and remain challenging to treat. The PEPSIS project explores an innovative therapeutic strategy combining bacteriophages and phototherapy, with the aim of selectively targeting bacterial pathogens and inactivating them through light activation.

The project focuses on the development of MAPS (Metallic Assemblies for Phototherapy and Sensing), a new class of supramolecular metal-based systems designed to display photodynamic (PDT), photothermal (PTT) and/or imaging properties.

Internship objectives

The intern will contribute to the design, synthesis and characterization of photoactive MAPS, with a strong focus on their potential biological applications.

The work will include:

• synthesis of ligands and molecular cages suitable for metal coordination;
• coordination and assembly with different transition metals, including Pt, Au, Ru and Ti;
• purification and structural characterization of the resulting compounds;
• investigation of their photophysical properties, including UV–visible absorption, fluorescence, ¹O₂ generation, photothermal properties and response to NIR irradiation;
• identification and selection of the most promising systems for anti-infective applications.

Depending on project progress and the intern's interests, participation in biological experiments may also be possible, including antibacterial activity assays, light-activated experiments and preliminary studies of MAPS–phage systems.

An interdisciplinary chemistry–biology project

This internship offers the opportunity to follow the development of a candidate system from molecular design and synthesis through to biological evaluation, in interaction with research teams working in chemistry, photophysics and microbiology.

Ultimately, the most promising systems will be combined with bacteriophages to develop targeted bioconjugates designed to selectively interact with bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The internship will take place in an international research environment, involving collaborations with academic partners in Europe and Georgia.

We are looking for a Master 2 / MSc student in Chemistry, Molecular Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Supramolecular Chemistry, Coordination Chemistry or a closely related field.

A solid background in organic synthesis is expected, together with an interest in coordination chemistry, photophysics and biological or biomedical applications. Previous experience in synthesis, molecular characterization and/or microbiology would be an advantage.

The candidate should be curious, independent, rigorous and motivated by interdisciplinary research at the chemistry–biology interface.

A good level of scientific English is required, as the project involves regular interactions and exchanges with international collaborators. An international profile, including previous academic mobility, international training or research experience abroad, will be particularly appreciated.

Perspectives

This is an emerging research project with strong scientific and translational potential, combining molecular chemistry, phototherapy and microbiology.

The internship offers the opportunity to contribute to the development of original photoactive metal-based systems, within an international collaborative environment, with potential perspectives for scientific publications, further research projects and continuation towards PhD-level research.