Center for Supramolecular Science

The Center for Supramolecular Science was founded in 1996 by Professors Echegoyen, Evanseck, Kaifer, Leblanc and Russell. It is located on the Coral Gables campus of the University of Miami and is administered by the Department of Chemistry. The center houses state-of-the-art laboratories and instrumentation designed for the preparation and characterization of diverse supramolecular systems, ranging from host–guest complexes to macromolecular assemblies and nanostructured films. Current research efforts involve the design of fluorescent sensors for biomedical applications, potential building blocks for nanoelectronics, photoresponsive materials for photonic applications and fundamental studies aimed at the rationalization of the factors regulating electron transfer processes.

Faculty

Thomas K. Harris, Assistant Professor: NMR and kinetic studies to determine the structure and function of enzymes involved in cancer; development of novel structure and mechanism-based methods for custom design of improved cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Angel E. Kaifer , Professor of Chemistry: Electrochemistry of supramolecular assemblies, redox control of self-assembly, dendrimers as novel frameworks for electron transfer and host-guest complexation processes, development of the host properties of new cucurbituril hosts.

Roger M. Leblanc , Professor of Chemistry: Supramolecular Chemistry in two dimensions; Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film based aggregation studies of fluorophores, peptides and enzymes. combinatorial surface chemistry for design of artificial proteins or enzyme active sites; spectroscopic and advanced microscopic application in supramolecular chemistry; sol-gel processes related to biodegradable polymer syntheses and photo-cross-linking related to biomedical applications; Quantum Dots: surface modification towards replacement of “classical” fluorophores.

V. Ramamurthy , Professor of Chemistry : Photochemistry and photophysics of molecular and supramolecular assemblies, exploration of confined cavities provided by crystals, zeolites, polymers, water-soluble organic hosts (e.g., cyclodextrins, cucurbiturils, octa-acid etc.), micelles and dendrimers as reaction media, green photochemistry.

Françisco M. Raymo , Associate Professor of Chemistry: Electroactive films; electron transfer; energy transfer; fluorescence modulation; fluorescent nanoparticles; interfacial supramolecular association; photochromic switches; self-assembled monolayers and multilayers.