Molecular Imprinting Strategies for Sensors and Assays
26/06/2026
The synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) has established itself as an indispensable tool in generating biomimetic sensors, i.e. systems that aim at implementing bioanalogous recognition abilities into artificial materials. The focus of research has shifted towards implementing MIPs into sensors and assays that are inherently useful for real-life
applications, which has brought substantial attention to questions such as reproducibility and obustness of MIP-based sensors. Especially radically polymerized systems pose a substantial challenge here: the inherently statistical polymerization process makes it difficult to achieve robust synthesis. This seminar talk will highlight two aspects that the group in Vienna has been utilizing to improve applicability in recent years: implementing controlled radical polymerization for generating surface-imprinted thin films and solid-phase synthesis to obtain so-called “MIP nanobodies”, as pioneered in the groups for S. Piletsky in Leicester and K. Haupt in Compiègne. It will cover different analytes ranging from small molecules and eptides to nanoand microsized structures.
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Tailoring Multifunctional Materials through Chemical Design and Structural Control
24/06/2026
Recent advances in synthetic organic chemistry and materials science have enabled the development of functional organic materials whose properties can be rationally engineered through molecular design and structural control. However, the preparation of highly pure materials, the expansion of their chemical functionality, and the precise control of long-range structural order remain challenging. In this talk, these aspects will be discussed through two representative case studies:
Carbon Dots (CDs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs). CDs are photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles synthesized from small organic molecules through solvothermal methods. Despite the simplicity and accessibility of their preparation, the properties often reported for novel CDs can arise from molecular impurities that are not removed during
purification. In our recent work, we introduced advanced characterization protocols to reveal these inconsistencies and establish new quality standards for the field. Building on this expertise, we expanded this synthetic methodology to access novel chiral CDs, which were successfully employed as catalytic platforms for organic transformations by exploiting both the core and surface functionalities of the nanoparticles.In parallel, COFs provide an ideal platform to investigate how structural order impacts material properties. COFs are crystalline porous polymers that are typically obtained as polycrystalline materials. Our recent efforts have enabled the development of synthetic methodologies for the growth
of single-crystalline imine-based COFs.[3,4] Access to highly ordered materials enabled us to elucidate
how crystallinity influences their properties and performance in targeted applications.
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From Graphene to Gold: Functional Carbon Materials, Nanoparticle Synthesis, Biosensor Development, and Advanced Composites for Collaborative Research
23/06/2026
This presentation outlines the research expertise and collaborative potential of Emine Kayhan (Assoc. Prof, Uşak University), spanning functional carbon nanomaterials, metal nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization, biosensor development, and advanced composite materials. The central theme of this talk is the synthesis and functional engineering of carbon-based nanomaterials — from large-area, transparent graphene films grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to graphene oxide and graphene quantum dots — and their integration into energy, sensing, and catalytic systems. This background encompasses palladium nanoparticles supported on chemically derived graphene for hydrogen generation, CoFe₂O₄ and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on carbon supports for lithium-ion and lithium-air batteries, and PdNi nanoparticles on SnO₂-C composites for electrocatalytic applications. Building on this foundation, recent work focuses on graphene quantum dot-based optical biosensor systems for rapid and portable detection of foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella spp., developed within an active TÜBİTAK project. The presentation will also cover advances in composite materials engineering — including glass fiber-reinforced polyester composites with tailored flameretardant and radiation-shielding properties — as well as photochromic bismuth tungstate ceramics synthesized under controlled temperature conditions. The overarching aim of this presentation is to identify synergistic collaboration opportunities with researchers at Tor Vergata who study on complementary applications: our group brings expertise in nanomaterial synthesis and functionalization — carbon materials, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, functional composites — while prospective partners may contribute in areas such as advanced biosensor fabrication, electrochemical characterization, device integration, dental or biomedical applications.
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Many-Body Effects on Quasiparticles: from Excitons to Phonons in 2D Materials
22/06/2026
Crystal elementary excitations, such as phonons, excitons and plasmons, and their momentum dispersions, are a fundamental topic in condensed matter physics. All these quasiparticles can be referred to as charged excitations, as they constitute the poles of the density-density response function $\chi$. Momentum-dependent electron energy-loss spectroscopy (q-EELS) has recently proven to be a pivotal tool for investigating charge excitations in suspended low-dimensional (2D) materials using a transmission electron microscope. In this seminar, I will discuss recent advances in the interpretation of low-momentum q-EELS measurements, along with advances in the calculation of electron-energy losses with manybody perturbation theory, required as electron interaction is enhanced in freestanding 2D materials. Such theoretical schemes are then applied to the study of the fine-structure exciton branch of monolayer hBN, then to the phonon dispersions and linewidths of graphene optical branches with excitonic effects near the Brillouin zone center ($\Gamma$) and corners (K), a regime relevant for transport graphene properties.
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Self-assembled Chemosensor Arrays
22/06/2026
The cross-reactive receptors of the mammalian olfactory systems allow the detection of multiple odorant molecules simultaneously. The obtained recognition information is data-processed, resulting in the discrimination of odor based on pattern recognition. Such sophisticated recognition fashions in Mother Nature are promising designs for powerful pattern recognition-driven chemical sensing. Real samples such as body fluids, foods and drinks, and environmental water contain various invisible analytes with different structural geometries, sizes, and charges. Therefore, efficient receptor designs
are required, considering the above features of analytes in real-sample analysis. Biogenic receptors, including enzymes and antibodies, are the representative materials that allow selective recognition against specific analytes, based on the lock-and-key models. Meanwhile, synthetic receptors are designed by molecular recognition chemistry, which offers superior cross-reactivity to selective recognition. Chemosensors comprising synthetic receptors and indicators enable visualization of analyte recognition information through changes in colorimetric and/or fluorescent properties. Chemosensors
on an array show various optical properties depending on the types of analytes and their concentrations, which are referred to as fingerprint-like responses. With pattern recognition techniques, optical chemical information can be visualized qualitatively and quantitatively. In this regard, molecular self-assemblies serve as driving forces for obtaining various optical patterns derived from assembly and disassembly in chemical sensing. To date, the author has developed selfassembled chemosensors for pattern recognition and revealed the applicability of this concept to various chemical sensing in water environments. The strategies for chemosensor designs based on molecular self-assembly for multi-component analysis will be introduced in the presentation.
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Electron or energy transfer in TiO2 Photocatalysis… that is the question
18/06/2026
Electron transfer is generally invoked to explain most of the reported photocatalytic reactions.
However, upon interaction of an electronically excited species (e.g. irradiated TiO2) with another in
its ground state, both electron or energy transfer could in principle take place. These events are
mechanistically and conceptually related, but they evolve differently along the reaction coordinate
depending on several factors.
This contribution will provide some paradigmatic examples showing how surface modification could
address the photocatalytic activity towards prevailing energy transfer based reactions. For instance,
even if with evident differences, surface modifications of TiO2 with silane moieties or with carbon
dots induce similar structural and photoinduced functional features of the resulting photocatalytic
material. In both cases, surface modification changes locally the crystal field of the titanium atoms
and stabilize Ti3+ defects in the sub-surface region. The amount of these paramagnetic centers
appears to be correlated with the formation rate of singlet oxygen, while electron transfer to
superoxide is suppressed.
Surface modification is therefore a useful tool to exploit energy transfer driven reactions. For
instance, energy transfer driven isomerization of caffeic acid has been found to occur effectively in
the presence of modified TiO2. More importantly, the preferential formation of singlet oxygen at the
surface of the irradiated modified semiconductor is an indirect proof of the occurrence of energy
transfer driven reactions. This has been exploited for the epoxidation of limonene and for the design
of oxygen getting nanocomposites.
Even if more direct evidences are required to corroborate these results, the presentation will show
that it is possible to control the nature of the oxidizing species in photocatalytic processes by simple
surface engineering, with extremely intriguing consequences in the field of green organic chemistry.
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The Future of Molecular Imprinting: Shaping Green and Innovative Electrochemical Platforms
16/06/2026
Developing rapid, cost-effective, and "green" approaches to achieve environmental sustainability is currently one of the
most important priorities for addressing environmental pollution. Molecular imprinting technology is a creative method that enables synthetic biorecognition gaps to mimic natural biological derivatives such as antibodies, receptors, and enzymes. After removal of the target analyte, synthetic cavities enable recognition and selective rebinding of the template. In this case, molecular imprinting technology offers biosimilar receptors with higher specific affinity and greater stability than natural receptors and biomolecules [1]. Although stable and durable MIPs seem relatively easy to create to achieve maximum efficiency, some optimization parameters should be considered, such as the appropriate functional monomer and crosslinker, and the optimal ratios among functional monomer, template, and crosslinker [2]. Green analytical chemistry (GAC) aims to make analytical techniques less harmful to the environment and more humanfriendly by reducing or eliminating toxic chemicals/reagents, using energy-efficient equipment, and using miniaturized and automated methods. Sustainability is the underlying approach to the GAC. There is an evolution towards more environmentally friendly components across the analysis process, from synthesis and analysis to the tools used. Thanks to these steps, minimizing waste generation and avoiding harmful waste will be the most important outcome of GAC for the environment and human health in the long run. It has been reported that template monomer interactions occur via noncovalent forces such as van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds, and dipolar interactions. MIP-based electrochemical sensors and miniature electrochemical transducers can detect target analytes in situ. Thanks to their superior chemical and physical stability, low-cost manufacturing, high selectivity, and fast response, MIPs have recently become an interesting field of study. The increase in environmental awareness and stricter regulation for the use of chemicals and economic competitiveness are challenging the scientific community and industry to explore greener strategies in their processes, preventing pollution and reducing waste while maximizing the efficiency of the processes, and that can only be achieved by the application of green chemistry and engineering principles.
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DESIGNING SMART GLYCOPOLYMERS: THEIR APPLICATIONS IN CANCER THERAPY
15/06/2026
Glycopolymers belong to a special class of synthetic polymers bearing pendant sugar units that are
receiving considerable attention among the scientific community, because of their interesting
properties and applications in the living system. The multivalent interaction between the sugar units
and carbohydrate receptors (lectins) plays the key role in its biological activity. Therefore, it is crucial
to manipulate the sugar density, length, and architecture of the glycopolymer to control the binding
rates with lectins. Currently, the major application of glycopolymers is in the field of pathogen
inhibition and cancer therapy due to their excellent bio-recognition properties. Herein, we investigated
the lectin binding efficiency of an octa-arm star glycopolymer as a function of its chain length. It was
observed that the binding constant value increases with the increase in glycopolymer chain length. In
another study, gelatin quantum dot-tagged fluorescence active redox-responsive glycopolymer nanogel
was developed via reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerisation. An
anticancer drug, Doxorubicin (Dox), was loaded in the nanogel and its efficacy was studied over MDA
MB 231, a human breast cancer cell line. The efficacy of synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy was
studied in a subsequent investigation to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the system. A gold
nanoparticle (NPs) embedded pH-responsive glycopolymer was synthesized via RAFT polymerisation
and was attached with Dox as well as with a photosensitizer. The system demonstrated a synergistic
effect of chemo-photodynamic therapy when exposed to 630 nm LED light. This talk will delineate the
design of tailor-made glycopolymers with well-defined architecture via RAFT polymerisation
technique and their applications in the study of glycopolymer-lectin interaction, bioimaging, drug
delivery and phototherapy for cancer treatment.
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Molecular vital signs: recent advances in in vivo biosensors
15/06/2026
The availability of technologies capable of tracking the levels of drugs, metabolites, and biomarkers in real
time in the living body would revolutionize our understanding of health and our ability to detect and treat
disease. To this end, recent years have seen the development of electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB)
sensors, an in vivo molecular sensing strategy supporting seconds- to sub-second resolution, real-time drug
and biomarker measurements. Composed of an electrode-bound, redox-reporter-modified aptamer that
generates a signal via a binding-induced conformational change, EAB sensors are independent of the
chemical reactivity of their targets and thus, unlike, the continuous glucose monitor, they are adaptable to
any of a wide range of targets. Consistent with this, to date some two dozen drugs, metabolites,
neurotransmitters, and proteins having been successfully measured in the veins, brains, and solid peripheral
tissues of live animal models and, recently, human subjects. In this talk, I will highlight recent advances in this
technology and discuss how continuous molecular monitoring is providing an unprecedented window into
physiology, pharmacology, and disease while laying the foundation for a new generation of precision
medicine.
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Industry 5.0: From system integration challenges to humancentered design based sustainable solutions
10/06/2026
Today and tomorrow's industry requires modern technology where collaboration takes place between
people, between people and machines and between machines. Machines can monitor themselves,
analyze the results and autonomously optimize operating conditions and production. The result is
higher efficiency and productivity. In this lecture, Prof. Solis will present an overview of the ongoing
projects in research and education at Karlstad University within the applications areas to ageing,
energy, environment and education. In particular, the challenges within Industry 5.0 will be
exemplified with an ongoing research project that deals with human-centered Industry 5.0. In
particular, I will present the integration of machine learning-based 3D gesture recognition system to
make it easier for humans to send commands to a collaborative robot through body language as well
as the integration of mixed reality for visualisation of both 3D cyber space and physical space to
enable bidirectional human-robot interaction. Some other challenges related to adaptive control
methods on battery energy storage in controlled environment plant production systems will be shortly
introduced
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