PRIN 2017 - Towards a CHeap and portable InstRument for bioAnaLysis based on enAntiospecific luminescence and aBsorption essays (CHIRALAB) (DCM.AD006.162)

Thematic area

Chemical sciences and materials technology

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC)

Project manager

MARCOGIOVANNI BETTINELLI
Phone number: +390458027097
Email: marco.bettinelli@univr.it

Abstract

We shall take advantage of biomolecular homochirality for several separate objectives finally converging in an ambitious goal: to set up a revolutionary prototype instrument for bioanalyses based on chiroptical spectroscopies, employing only modern optoelectronic devices, i.e. avoiding expensive items for producing and detecting circularly polarized (CP) and monochromatic light (sources, polarization modulators, detectors). We constitute a multidisciplinary team with complementary expertise covering synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry, spectroscopy, characterization of molecules and materials and device fabrication and testing.

Goals

The first aim of CHIRALAB is to obtain: A) new luminescent chiral molecules and materials, with high circularly polarized luminescence, CPL; B) new light absorbers with high circular dichroism, CD; C)
new bioassays, based on chiroptical switches, i.e. receptors which change their CD or CPL in response to their binding with a biologically relevant analyte. Point A) will be addressed with chiral lanthanide
complexes and organic emitters organized in chiral supramolecular structures; some Ln(III) ions feature optimal CPL in the visible (Eu, Sm, Tb); chiral orientation of -conjugated molecules can determine
large CD and CPL (UV and vis). With these latter systems, we shall address also point B). For point C) we shall use Ln(III) together with other systems with an exchangeable ligation site, where the bioanalyte
will determine the chiroptical switch, allowing for quantitative analyses. With the systems prepared in A) and B), we shall design and fabricate optoelectronic systems able to discriminate circularly polarized (CP) light: CP-OLED and CP-detectors. The ultimate goal is to set up prototype of revolutionary instrument for chiral bioanalyses (point C) based on plastic electronics.

Start date of activity

29/10/2019

Keywords

Chirality, bioanalysis, luminescence

Last update: 22/04/2025