Chemical Optosensors & Applied Photochemistry Group (GSOLFA)

The Chemical Optosensors & Applied Photochemistry Research Group at Complutense Univ. of Madrid (UCM), is currently formed by ca. 17 members (6 Profs., 1 post-doc, 10 PhD students) belonging to the Dpmts. of Organic Chem. and Analytical Chem.. We have more than 25 years" experience in luminescent photochemical micro/nano (bio)sensors and tailored molecular probes for environmental, aeronautics, food analysis and industrial apps., plus artificial molecular recognition materials (MIPs), mimopeptides, recombinant antibodies, medical and environmental applications of singlet oxygen. We have received seamless funding from National (19 grants), European (11 EU projects, incl. 2 Marie-Curie ITNs), and Regional (7 grants) Bodies in the last 23 years. Over 150 pubs. in leading journals provide an account of our contributions to science (www.gsolfa.info). Collaboration with ca. 15 research groups worldwide are currently on going in the above-mentioned areas. Our strong application-oriented research is shown by a significant number of contracts with leading enterprises, including Repsol, Agilent Tech., Suez, CESA, TAP Biosys. and Gas Natural Fenosa, among many others. Over 20 patents (6 of them EU or PCT) granted so far witness our technology transfer. Our state-of-the-art instrumentation and facilities span 5 labs and include synthesis, biolab, spectroscopy, FLIM, HPLC, microplate readers, photon-counting fluorometers and fiberoptic optoelectronics.

The need for environmental, food and biomedical sensing and monitoring is constantly growing, and encompasses the most basic aspects of our lives, such as drinking water, food and beverages, agricultural products, and healthcare. Opto-chemical sensors are particularly attractive for such applications as they are potentially very sensitive and well-suited for the integration in miniaturized devices for multiplexed measurements of a range of analytes/samples, and have the potential for low-cost large scale production. This project will focus on the implementation of novel recognition elements based on phage display techniques and molecularly imprinted polymers for their use in sensors and microarrays. Special emphasis will be placed on the quest for sensitive amplification schemes using, for example, fluorescently doped nanoparticles, localized surface plasmon resonance, or metallic nanoparticles. Bead-based arrays and microarrays will be investigated to perform multiplexed detection of natural toxins in complex food and environmental samples.

- Curriculum vitae (pdf)
- Hand-written motivation letter (pdf)
- Copy of the PhD degree certificate and EU Supplement to the Degree(s) (or equivalent certificate detailing the courses followed during the Degree & Master studies and marks obtain