Functional Nanomaterials Group

The scientific interests of our research group have evolved from the development of reductive coupling methods with low valence metals for the stereoselective synthesis of natural cyclitols and carbocyclic glycommetics, and their study as specific enzyme inhibitors, to the design, synthesis and characterization of new "tailor-made" photosensitized nanostructured materials with improved biophotonic behavior for advanced biomedical applications. This new line of research started in 2006 with the design and preparation of multivalent glycomimetics using hybrid molecular nanoparticles as central scaffolds. More recently, we have incorporated into our studies other molecular nanoparticles (fullerenes) and biopolymers such as cellulose nanocrystals and lignin nanoparticles, which combine our previous experience in carbohydrate chemistry with the latest in functional nanomaterials.