FUNDAMENTAL GOAL:

Synthesis and study of new multifunctional materials and compounds, of both natural and synthetic origin, with biological activity, useful in the treatment of diseases, food safety and hospital safety, and in catalytic and energy harnessing applications.

All of the researchers in the group have been working jointly in the Department of Fundamental Chemistry since the origins of the UDC, with de facto collaborations in the research projects.

Taking advantage of the interdisciplinary character the specialization of each member confers on the group, together with the experience of all the members in collaborative works with external researchers from other disciplines, the current and future research projects of the group will revolve around three main lines in which chemistry, health, aquaculture, the environment and energy all overlap:

L1-Design of nano-biosensors

Co-ordinator: M.ª Antonia Señarís Rodríguez (CAT-UN)
PRIORITY SPECIALIZATION TOPIC: Nanotechnology

L2-Bioactive compounds and biomaterials

Co-ordinator: Carlos Jiménez González (CAT-UN))
PRIORITY SPECIALIZATION TOPIC: New molecules as therapeutic weapons in pathologies with a high epidemiological prevalence

L3-Sustainable chemistry

Co-ordinator: Luis Sarandeses da Costa (CAT-UN)
PRIORITY SPECIALIZATION TOPIC: New replacements for critical materials

These three main lines will be combined jointly, giving rise to specific scientific goals that can be developed and will be hereinafter referred to as synergies:

• S1. SYNERGY L1-L2

  Development of multifunctional compounds and materials with optical and magnetic properties for the detection and elimination of pathogens, with applications in aquaculture, food safety and hospital health.

• S2. SYNERGY L1-L3

  Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functionalized for catalysis, adsorption of gases, and adsorption of pollutants and trace metals in water.

• S3. SYNERGY L1-L2

  Supramolecules with cytotoxic activity.

• S4. SYNERGY L1-L2

  New functional and multifunctional materials with optical and/or dielectric properties, with applications in generation of photovoltaic energy, photocromic devices, multifunctional sensors.

• S5. SYNERGY L2-L3

  Synthesis of new compounds with biological activity.

All these research lines respond to Social Challenges within the Horizon 2020 programme and to strategic goals in the State-level Scientific and Technical Innovation Plan 2013-2016, as well as the priority lines of Galicia’s RIS3 Programme:

• S1: Health, food safety and food quality, marine and maritime research.
  
• S2: Health, food safety and food quality, efficiency in the use of resources and raw materials.
• S3: Health.
• S4: Safe, efficient and clean energy, efficiency in the use of resources and raw materials.
• S5: Health, efficiency in the use of resources and raw materials.

_{Este grupo de investigación participa en el Programa Oficial de Doctorado en "Química Ambiental y Fundamental" y en el Programa Oficial de Doctorado en "Biotecnología Avanzada"}