Major research activities at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy
Profile 2010
The research activities of the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy cover a wide spectrum that ranges from basic to applied research in the areas of chemistry, biology, pharmacy, and pharmaceutical science. These are strongly linked to each other, have a manifold of interactions and interdisciplinary research projects within the University (Sonderforschungsbereiche, Graduiertenkollegs) and with other national and international institutions (DFG-Schwerpunktprogramme, EU, BMBF, Volkswagenstiftung, DAAD, Humboldt-Stiftung, Bayerische Forschungsförderung, etc.). Consequently, the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy create the molecular bridge between the Faculties for Medicine and Technical Sciences.
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Current research objectives concentrate on two major areas:
MOLECULAR MATERIALS - metal complexes, electron transfer, nanostructures, modeling, and catalysis
The synthesis and characterization of molecular materials are of central interest to the research activities in the various research groups of Chemistry.
Hereby, as an important class of materials redox-active metal complexes constitute the major thrust of SFB 583. These are used, for example, to catalyze chemical reactions. Also, carbon-rich conjugated π-systems, which exhibit unprecedented materials properties, such as mechanical strength, molecular magnetism and electrical conductivity, are of interest. Additional incentives in the studies of metal complexes and alternative molecular architectures are also their supramolecular assembly and integration into hierarchically ordered nanostructures. Many of these tailored materials undergo photoinduced charge separation processes between redox-active subunits. Consequently, new systems are developed, which will help to solve fundamental challenges of the future, such as the shortage of energy and other resources. A specific strength of the chemical research in Erlangen is the computer assisted determination and modeling of molecular architectures, of their properties and transitions.
BIOACTIVE MOLECULES - Neurotropic Agents, Biologicals, and Protein Conjugates
Within the context of the subject Bioactive Molecules, novel neurotropic agents are designed, synthesized and examined for of their activity towards signaling proteins. As target proteins, G-protein coupled neuroreceptors, Tet-repressors (SFB 473) as well as prion proteins are addressed. To examine target protein modifications occurring during food treatment but also are detected and functional consequences are analyzed by means of biological tests. For the understanding of effects of large-scale processes during the preparation of therapeutic proteins on protein folding and aggregation, stabilization, particle formation, and drying rate of biotechnologically obtained proteins are explored.