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PhD in Photoactive Supramolecular Materials for Biomedical and Sensing Applications

Job Summary

The newly appointed Supramolecular Inorganic Biosystems Lab, led by Dr. Guillermo Moreno Alcántar, is looking for an enthusiastic and driven PhD candidate to join an exciting project at the interface of inorganic supramolecular chemistry and biology. The research will explore the design and development of novel supramolecular assemblies and materials incorporating photoactive synthons, aimed at applications in photodynamic therapy, drug delivery, and sensing.

Job Description

We are seeking curiosity-driven candidates with an MSc in chemistry, hands-on experience in organic synthesis, and interests in supramolecular and bioinorganic chemistry. Prior exposure to coordination or organometallic chemistry will be positively valued. Throughout the PhD, the candidate will develop expertise in spectroscopy, materials characterization, and cell biology to meet the project’s interdisciplinary goals.

The project focuses on the design, synthesis, and functionalization of metallacages constructed from metal-ligand coordination, with special emphasis on gold and platinum-based systems incorporating photoactive synthons. The candidate will explore metallacages with tunable cavities capable of hosting small molecules, with potential applications in photodynamic therapy (PDT), drug delivery, and molecular sensing.

The project also involves studying drug-target interactions with non-canonical DNA structures, leveraging advanced techniques like fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, TEM, and NMR, to elucidate drug-target recognition and stabilization mechanisms. Additionally, the work aims to harness the photoactive properties of metal-porphyrin systems for photocatalysis and sensing, exploiting their ability to generate reactive oxygen species and stabilize excited states for advanced biomedical applications.

Finally, the candidate will investigate strategies for surface-functionalization, stimuli-responsive crosslinking, and incorporating active targeting vectors such as peptides, enabling controlled release and selective delivery in therapeutic contexts. This interdisciplinary project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge developments in supramolecular chemistry with impactful applications in medicine and sensing.

Benefits

Comment/web site for additional job details

https://www.cicbiomagune.es/job-offer-detail?id=43059