Towards unravelling self-assembly/disassembly mechanisms of photo-switchable supramolecular gels by super-resolution microscopy and their use for drug crystallization

The overarching scientific goal of the LIGHTSUPGEL study is to design and synthetize novel reversible photo-switchable azobenzene and bis(urea)-based supramolecular gels, and to develop a super-resolution microscopy-based methodology to visualize the self-assembly and disassembly process in real-time with the aim of unravelling their underlying mechanisms.

The cutting-edge combination of super-resolution STED and FLIM microscopies, together with environment-sensitive fluorescent probes, will be employed to spatially controlled photo-switch the gelation and de-gelation, and for first time, simultaneously monitor the process with nanoscopic resolution.

Furthermore, the application of this new knowledge and novel photo-switchable gels in gel-mediated drug crystallization, will be explored.

The possibility of light-triggered drug crystal harvesting photo-switchable gels offers, will be the first ever described non-invasive and reversible method to harvest crystals from gels.

This new technology will mean a huge advance in the field of gel-phase drug crystallization, bringing it closer to its industrialization.

By completing this ambitious multidisciplinary work, the applicant will be in an excellent position to create cross-disciplinary collaborations with research groups and industry across Europe and to becoming an independent researcher himself.