Welcome to Supra-poly-chem Lab...
Research Interest
Molecular self-assembly is a powerful strategy for building advanced functional materials. It follows a bottom-up approach where small molecules come together in a programmed way to form larger, organized structures. This allows precise control over both the shape and function of the resulting material. Chemists have used this approach to create many different types of structures, such as vesicles, micelles, gels, linear chains, and network-like systems. These structures can further organize into more complex soft materials through hierarchical assembly. Because of this control, self-assembled systems can even store information in their structure, making them useful for creating smart and responsive materials. This field has grown quickly and now connects chemistry with biology, physics, and materials science.
Synthesis of Small organic molecule and peptide
GG research group is deeply engaged in designing luminescent organic molecules and chromophore-functionalized peptides to create supramolecular nanostructures that mimic life-like behavior. These small molecules are synthesized to self-assemble into functional materials through non-covalent interactions. We study how external factors like solvent, temperature, and pH influence their assembly, allowing us to control their morphology and properties. By integrating chromophores with short peptides, we combine optical functionality with structural tunability. Our goal is to understand and harness self-assembly to develop responsive, smart materials with potential applications in sensing, optoelectronics, and biomedicine, guided by principles of supramolecular chemistry and molecular design.
Controlling Pathway Complexity in Peptide-Based Supramolecular
We are interested in the pathway complexity of peptide self-assembly, focusing on how competing kinetic and thermodynamic factors influence the formation of diverse supramolecular structures. Our research explores the role of various external stimuli in directing the organization of peptide materials. By understanding and controlling these dynamic processes, we aim to design programmable peptide-based systems with applications in nanotechnology, biomaterials, and therapeutic delivery.
Control over nanostructure in supramolecular self-assembly is a critical focus in the GG Lab, enabling the precise design of functional materials with tailored properties. By modulating non-covalent interactions—such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, metal coordination, and hydrophobic effects—we investigates strategies to guide molecular organization into well-defined nanostructures. This structural control allows for tunable morphology, including fibers, sheets, and micelles, which is essential for applications in drug delivery, catalysis, and electronic materials. The GG Lab integrates We employ experimental techniques—including spectroscopy and microscopy—to investigate the relationship between molecular design and self-assembled architecture. By systematically varying molecular components and environmental conditions, the lab achieves predictable, reproducible control over nanoscale features, advancing the broader field of supramolecular chemistry
Control Over Nanostructure
Synthesis (ROP, RAFT) of custom-designed and Self-Assembly of Block co-polymer
In our lab, we focus on the synthesis of polypeptide and polypeptide-based block copolymer, by employing ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and RAFT techniques. Our research includes studying the crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) of polypeptide-based block copolymers. CDSA enables the formation of highly ordered nanostructures such as fibers, rods, and platelets, driven by the crystallization of the polypeptide segment. This technique is pivotal in controlling the morphology and functionality of polymeric materials. One of the primary goals of our CDSA work is to develop polypeptide-based nanostructures with antimicrobial properties. These materials have potential applications in medical devices, coatings, and wound dressings, where bacterial resistance is a growing concern. We also explore the synthesis of chromophoric polypeptides by incorporating functional side chains or conjugated systems. Such materials are of interest due to their optical and electronic properties. Our aim is to prepare supramolecular helical polymers through non-covalent interactions and molecular self-assembly. These structures mimic biological helices and exhibit unique chiroptical properties. The ultimate goal of our research is to develop polypeptide-based materials for advanced technological applications. These include bioelectronics, chemical/biological sensing, and smart materials with stimuli-responsive behavior.
Metal and Nanoparticle induced supramolecular self assembly of peptides
GG research group involve in studies the metal- and nanoparticle-induced supramolecular self-assembly of peptides, focusing on how these inorganic components direct and modulate peptide organization. We investigate how metal ion coordination and nanoparticle surface interactions influence assembly pathways, leading to distinct nanostructures with tailored properties. By combining structural characterization and mechanistic insights, we aim to design hybrid peptide-inorganic materials for applications in biomaterials, catalysis, sensing, and nanomedicine.
