Prof. Pau Ballester
Group Leader:
Pau Ballester, ICREA Professor
Scientific Coordinator:
Gemma Aragay
Postdoctoral Researchers:
Felipe Sierra (since Mar.), Evgeny Bulatov, Eva González, Karen de la Vega
PhD Students:
Felipe Sierra (until Feb.) / Pedro Ferreira (until June) / Chiara Mirabella (until Sep) / Andrea Rivoli / Yifan Li / Hayley Kay Frost (until Sep), Esteban A. Valencia
Summary
The Ballester group works in the areas of organic chemistry (making molecules) and physical organic chemistry (studying how the molecules interact with each other). Their current research focuses on the design, synthesis, study, and characterization of functional molecular aggregates. Prof. Ballester considers himself an architect / molecular engineer. In the group, they study matter but also produce matter and new materials. The group applies molecular self-assembly processes as a methodology for constructing large and functional interconnected structures, such as molecular machines, or molecular sensors and devices. The group also applies the developed receptors as carriers for anions and amino acids across liposomal membranes.
Their second area of interest is the design and application of molecular containers, cages and capsules. These are molecular or supramolecular architectures with an internal cavity large enough to include or encapsulate other molecules. The cavities of the molecular containers are exploited for the stabilization of reactive molecules or in the mediation of chemical reactions among others.
Publications
Novel nandrolone aptamer for rapid colorimetric detection of anabolic steroids
Shkembia, X.; Botero, M. L.; Skouridou, V.; Jauset-Rubio, M.; Svobodova, M.; Ballester, P.; Bashammak, A. S.; El-Shahawic, M. S.; Alyoubic, A. O.; O’Sullivan, C. K.
Anal. Biochem. 2022, 658, 114937
Influence of the solvent in the self-assembly and binding properties of [1 + 1] tetra-imine bis-calix[4]pyrrole cages
Mirabella, C. F. M.; Aragay, G.; Ballester, P.
Chem. Sci. 2022, 186-195
Potentiometric detection of creatinine in the presence of nicotine: Molecular recognition, sensing and quantification through multivariate regression
Corbaad, A.; Sierra, A. F.; Blondeau, P.; Giussani, B.; Riu, J.; Ballester, P.; Andrade, F. J.
Talanta 2022, 246, 123473
MORE PUBLICATIONS
Supramolecular approaches to mediate chemical reactivity
Ballester, P.; Wang, Q.; Gaeta, C.
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 1463–1465
Chloride Binding Properties of a Macrocyclic Receptor Equipped with an Acetylide Gold(I) Complex: Synthesis, Characterization, Reactivity, and Cytotoxicity Studies
Rivoli, A.; Aragay, G., Gimeno, M. C.; Ballester, P.
Inorganics 2022, 10 (7), 95
A Dinuclear Metallobridged Super Aryl-Extended Calix[4]pyrrole Cavitand
Sun, Q.; Escobar, L.; Ballester, P.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61 (22), e202202140
Projects
OL-Future: Solar Catalysis for a Renewable Energy Future
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref: PLEC2021-007906
COMPOFUN: Molecular containers with polar cavities and versatile functions
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref: PID2020-114020GB-100
NOAH: Network of Functional Molecular Containers with Controlled Switchable Abilities
MSCA IF | Ref: 765297
Química supramolecular interdisciplinar
AGAUR | Ref: 2021SGR00851
MAKI-2: Real-time sensing of diagnostically-relevant biomarkers in urine for the monitoring of acute kidney injury.
BIST.
Theses Supervised
Andrés Felipe Sierra Ramos
February 24, 2022
Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Calix[4]pyrrole containers as molecular sensors
Pedro Miguel Mendonça Ferreira
June 14, 2022
Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Stimuli-responsive Calix[4]pyrrole and Calix[4]arene Based Receptors: from Unimolecular to Dimeric Structures
Chiara Mirabella
September 13, 2022
Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Dynamic Covalent Capsules based on Calix[4]pyrrole scaffolds
Features
Our own Prof. Pau Ballester has been recognized with the Chemistry Europe Fellows Class of 2020-2021
https://www.iciq.org/our-own-prof-pau-ballester-has-been-recognized-with-the-chemistry-europe-fellows-class-of-2020-2021/
Projects MAKI and QEE2DUP win 2021 BIST Ignite Awards
https://www.iciq.org/projects-maki-and-qee2dup-win-2021-bist-ignite-awards/