NMR and Molecular Recognition Group

Molecular recognition is one of the key biological processes essential for life. Without mutual and specific molecular recognition, life would not be possible. Enzymes, receptors, antibodies, transport channels and systems, membranes, and cells - all are examples of diverse systems whose function depends on molecular recognition. In the past, these phenomena were studied within coordination chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry.

Today, most of this research is concentrated in supramolecular chemistry, which represents a new interdisciplinary field at the interface of analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry. This branch of chemistry deals with the complementarity of size, shape, and chemical surface of interacting partners. It describes processes governed by specific non-covalent interactions, resulting in phenomena such as recognition and binding of target analytes, self-assembly, and the formation of organized systems, monolayers, or membranes.