Metal_DNA Lab

Metal_DNA Lab is a research group led by Dr. Miguel A. Galindo. The research focuses on the preparation and characterization of new DNA-based systems where metals play a key role in their properties. The research group is based at the Department of Inorganic Chemistry of the University of Granada (UGR, Spain), and is part of the Chemistry Unit of Excellence.

The team brings together researchers with different backgrounds and focuses on the development and study of metal-DNA molecules, their components, and their conjugation with different materials (nanoparticles and carbon nanomaterials).

We use DNA molecules as a fundamental tool (platform, template, or scaffold) to organize metallic entities at the nanoscale. The use of metals, metal ions, and coordination compounds is at the core of our research, as they can provide unique properties to nucleic acid molecules.

The resulting metal-DNA hybrid systems could offer a plethora of different applications, depending on the resulting structure and the metals employed. 

The group works in various areas, from the preparation to the characterization and study of properties of new metal-DNA systems, using both natural and modified nucleic acids, in their double and single-stranded forms. The study of this type of metal-DNA system also extends to work in solution, surface, and solid-state.

​Another of our research objectives is the incorporation of the new metal-DNA systems to nanoparticles, carbon nanotube, and graphene platforms, to obtain advanced materials.

Moreover, it is essential to know how metal ions and metal complexes interact with the bases we use, both natural and artificial. Therefore, part of our research is also focused on understanding these types of metal-nucleobase interactions.