The research in the Besenius lab focuses on the synthesis of organic and supramolecular functional systems. We design molecular and macromolecular building blocks that self-assemble into programmable polymers, adaptive materials in aqueous media and in the bulk. Utilising natural and non-natural supramolecular interactions we investigate multifunctional systems for applications as temperature-, pH-, oxidative stress and mechano-responsive hydrogels and biomedical carriers, biomaterials, as well as the development of synthetic vaccines for immunotherapy.
Through a number of internal and external collaborations we characterise all of the supramolecular materials with a range of experimental techniques, TEM & cryoTEM, AFM, SLS & DLS, SAXS, steady state & transient CD and photoluminescence spectroscopy, PFG & MAS-NMR spectroscopy, in combination with multi-scale molecular modelling studies.
See our lab and publications pages for more information, the website of the core facilities of the Department of Chemistry, or contact Pol Besenius directly.