Our research focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization and study of properties (conductive, photochemical and bioactivity) of new metal-DNA hybrid systems, to develop new tools for bio- and nano-technological applications.
Overview of on-going research
Metallized double-stranded DNA
Double stranded DNA molecules are modified, with artificial nucleobases, to guide the interaction of metal ions exclusively inside them. We are particularly interested in the formation of 1D cordination polymers within the double helix.
Metallized single-stranded DNA
Single-stranded DNA molecules are used as a template for the organization of coordination compounds. In this way, we can organize the metal ions and ligands on a nanometric scale. They are also used for the study of metal nanocluster formation.
Metals & Nucleobases & Artificial Nucleobases
We also study the interaction modes between metal ions and the modified nucleobases we used in our DNA molecules. This understanding will allow us to better design novel metal-DNA systems.
Carbon Nanomaterials & metal-DNA
We explore the formation of advanced materials obtained from the conjugation of our metal-DNA molecules and carbon nanomaterials
Nanoparticles & POMs & metal-DNA
We are also exploring the formation of advanced materials derived from the conjugation of metal-DNA molecules with nanoparticles and polyoxometalates (POMs)