Abdou Rachid Thiam Cell organelles from a physics perspective

Lipid droplets

Eukaryotic cells have different compartments called organelles, each surrounded by a lipid membrane and performing a specific function. These organelles include nucleus, mitochondria and lipid droplets. Lipid droplets are the cell's main lipid reservoirs, forming during periods of energy storage. They consist of an oil droplet surrounded by a layer of phospholipids, similar to oil-in-water emulsions. They play a major role in cell membrane dynamics, interact with other organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and lysosomes, and are almost always involved in metabolic and infectious diseases, as well as cancer.

The contribution of physics to the study of organelles

Throughout his career, Abdou Rachid Thiam has adopted an interdisciplinary approach to studying organelles, with a particular focus on lipid droplets. He uses biophysical techniques such as micromanipulation and microfluidic formulation to accurately measure the physical and biochemical properties of these droplets. More specifically, he seeks to understand how they form and how specific proteins recruited at their water-oil interface regulate cell metabolism. The synergy between physicists and biologists within his team has revealed how cells reorganise their organelles in response to variations in lipid and energy levels. His recent work sheds light on the link between lipid droplets and pathologies such as lipodystrophy, infectious diseases, hepatic steatosis, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

A promising interdisciplinary approach

Abdou Rachid Thiam is currently focusing his research on the study of lipid homeostasis, which relies on a delicate balance between production, absorption, circulation, storage and elimination of lipids within cells. Any disruption to this process leads to disorders such as dyslipidemia, neurodegeneration and atherosclerosis. 

Keen to provide concrete solutions, he founded Oria Bioscience in 2024, a start-up that develops methods for isolating organelles for therapeutic purposes. Through his approach, at the crossroads of physics and biology, Abdou Rachid Thiam's work opens up promising prospects in various sectors of medicine, with relevant tools that can be used in the field of cosmetics.