Author archives: Invited Researcher

Could excipients decrease antimicrobial properties? Citronellal oil and cyclodextrins

Could excipients decrease antimicrobial properties? Citronellal oil and cyclodextrins

Biochemistry

By Invited Researcher

Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología molecular-A, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain * adrian.matencio@um.es Antimicrobial resistance is a problem in our society. Although several authors have focused on seeking new molecules with antimicrobial activity, resistance has increased. Several authors are looking for new antimicrobial substances or seeking to improve the use of […]

Design of protein-protein binding sites suggests a rationale for naturally occurring contact areas

Design of protein-protein binding sites suggests a rationale for naturally occurring contact areas

BiochemistryChemistryMaterials

By Invited Researcher

Molecular recognition is a critical process for many biological functions and consists in non-covalent binding of different molecules, such as protein-protein, antigen-antibody and many others. The host-guest molecules involved often show a shape complementarity, and one of the leading specification for molecular recognition is that the interaction must be selective, i.e. the host should strongly […]

On the Genealogy of Innovation, or how to look for power with a hammer

On the Genealogy of Innovation, or how to look for power with a hammer

Philosophy of science

By Invited Researcher

The term “innovation” has been ubiquitous for decades in many areas of European society. Since Lisbon 2000—and even earlier—the European Union has promoted policies to drive innovation with the intention of restoring to Europe the economic leadership it has undoubtedly lost. Two decades later, we are close to Horizon 2020—at least chronologically speaking. Within the […]

Enzybiotics, from phages to the inhaler.

Enzybiotics, from phages to the inhaler.

BiomedicineMedicineMicrobiologyPharmacy

By Invited Researcher

I n the age of bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics, the so-called superbacteria, it is critical to our future the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Lytic enzymes encoded by bacteriophages – viruses that specifically kill bacteria, also called lysins or enzybiotics, are effective agents for preventing and controlling diseases caused by Gram+ bacteria, including Streptococcus […]

Self-knotting bionic proteins

Self-knotting bionic proteins

ChemistryMaterials

By Invited Researcher

Some heteropolymers can be designed to spontaneously self-assemble in complex pre-determined knotted structures. In the past, we referred to such designable heteropolymers as “bionic proteins”. Here we present an extensive study on self-knotting bionic proteins. As our everyday experience with ropes teaches us, knots form spontaneously in polymer chains of sufficient length and flexibility have […]

Unlocking graphene’s spintronic potential through spin-valley coupling

Unlocking graphene’s spintronic potential through spin-valley coupling

Condensed matterMaterialsNanotechnologyQuantum physics

By Invited Researcher

Few materials have drawn as much attention as graphene, it fascinating attributes such as one-atom thickness and relativistic electrons, and its technological properties like transparency, large mechanical strength, and ultra-high electron’s mobility, position it as one of the more promising materials in the present. Recently, simultaneous experimental and theoretical studies have confirmed that combining graphene […]