Biophysics and Biochemistry

Physical and chemical methods applied to the study of biological systems and problems

L2 Biophysics

This research line gathers theoretical and experimental activity on the study of biological phenomena using methodologies and concepts from physics and chemistry. It includes the use of computational methods to describe the properties and dynamics of biomolecules, the design and synthesis of molecular systems of biological interest, as well as the development of viral sensing devices.

Specific topics

  • Protein folding and protein damage by high-valent metals and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.
  • Plasmon-based colloidal systems for artificial photosynthesis and biosensing; plasmonic nanoparticles for liquid biopsy.
  • Interdisciplinary approach to develop new methods for viral sensing.

Related publications

  1. Scientific article 1 X-Ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy Towards Measuring Nanoparticle Diameters in Biological Environments Allowing for the In Situ Analysis of their Bio-Nano Interface
    F. Otto, , X. Sun, F. Schulz, C. Sanchez-Cano, N. Feliu, F. Westermeier, and W. J. Parak
    Small 18, 37 (2022).
  2. Scientific article 2 Size- and Ligand-Dependent Transport of Nanoparticles in Matricariachamomilla as Demonstrated by Mass Spectroscopy and X-ray FluorescenceImaging
    Y. Liu, C. Kornig, B. Qi, O. Schmutzler, T. Staufer, C. Sanchez-Cano, E. Magel, J. C. White, N. Feliu, F. Gruner, and W. J. Parak
    ACS Nano 16, 12941 (2022).
  3. Scientific article 3 Single-Cell Chemistry of Photoactivatable Platinum Anticancer Complexes
    E. M. Bolitho, C. Sanchez-Cano, H. Shi, P. D. Quinn, M. Harkiolaki, C. Imberti, and P. J. Sadler
    J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 20224 (2021).
  4. Scientific article 4 Fluorescent bicolour sensor for low-background neutrinoless double betadecay experiments
    I. Rivilla, B. Aparicio, J. M. Bueno, D. Casanova, C. Tonnele, Z. Freixa, P. Herrero, C. Rogero, I. Miranda, R. M. Martinez-Ojeda, F. Monrabal, B. Olave, T. Schafer, P. Artal, D. Nygren, F. P. Cossio, and J. J. Gomez-Cadenas
    Nature 583, 48+ (2020).
  5. Scientific article 5 Flavin Bioorthogonal Photocatalysis Toward Platinum Substrates
    J. Gurruchaga-Pereda, V. Martinez-Martinez, E. Rezabal, X. Lopez, C. Garino, F. Mancin, A. L. Cortajarena, and L. Salassa
    ACS Catal. 10, 187 (2020).
  6. Scientific article 6 Discovering Biomolecules with Huisgenase Activity: Designed RepeatProteins as Biocatalysts for (3+2) Cycloadditions
    I. Rivilla, M. Odriozola-Gimeno, A. Aires, A. Gimeno, J. Jimenez-Barbero, M. Torrent-Sucarrat, A. L. Cortajarena, and F. P. Cossio
    J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142, 762 (2020).
  7. Scientific article 7 Catalysis of a 1,3-dipolar reaction by distorted DNA incorporating aheterobimetallic platinum(II) and copper(II) complex
    I. Rivilla, A. de Cozar, T. Schafer, F. J. Hernandez, A. M. Bittner, A. Eleta-Lopez, A. Aboudzadeh, J. I. Santos, J. I. Miranda, and F. P. Cossio
    Chem. Sci. 8, 7038 (2017).
  8. Scientific article 8 Riboflavin as a bioorthogonal photocatalyst for the activation of aPt-IV prodrug
    S. Alonso-de Castro, E. Ruggiero, A. Ruiz-de-Angulo, E. Rezabal, J. C. Mareque-Rivas, X. Lopez, F. Lopez-Gallego, and L. Salassa
    Chem. Sci. 8, 4619 (2017).
  9. Scientific article 9 Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Bis-Spiropyrrolidines via SequentialInterrupted and Completed (3+2) Cycloadditions
    E. Conde, I. Rivilla, A. Larumbe, and F. P. Cossio
    J. Org. Chem. 80, 11755 (2015).