Laboratory of Structural and Supramolecular Chemistry




	Laboratory of Structural and Supramolecular Chemistry Fax: +30 210 6511766 GROUP PHOTO *Lab Director* Dr. Irene Moustakali-Mavridis, Researcher A, Tel: +30210-6503793, mavridi@chem.demokritos.gr *Researchers* Dr. Konstantina Yannakopoulou , Researcher A, Tel: +30210-6503796 dyanna@chem.demokritos.gr, nmrlab@chem.demokritos.gr *Honorary Research Associate* Dr.Eugene Hadjoudis, hadjoudi@chem.demokritos.gr *Research Associates* Dr. Davide Mafffeo, dmaffeo@chem.demokritos.gr Dr. Anastasia Paulidou paulidou@chem.demokritos.gr Dr. Emmanuel Saridakis esaridak@chem.demokritos.gr Graduate Students Chrysa Aggelidou agelidou@chem.demokritos.gr Petros Giastas pegias@chem.demokritos.gr Spyros Hadjieythymiou spchatzi@chem.demokritos.gr Lasse Kyllonen kyllonen@chem.demokritos.gr Maria Lamropoulou mlamp@chem.demokritos.gr Former Group members PhD: Aliki Rontoyianni, Kiki Eliadou, Stella Makedonopoulou, Nikos Pinotsis Nikos Mourtzis MSc: Dimitris Zouvelekis, Penny Stefanidou Post-Doc: Zoi Plyta Participating in the networks Network of Excellence Nano2Life Marie Curie RTN Uninanocups Research Facilities Single Crystal Diffractometer (Siemens, upgrated by X-ray Logic). Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory (Dr. I. M. Mavridis, Coordinator): Rotating anode (Rigaku), Image Plate Raxis IV (Molecular Structure corporation), Low Temperature apparatus (Oxford Cryosystems), computing and molecular graphics facilities, Circular Dichroism spectrometer (Jasco J-715). NMR Laboratory: 500 MHz Avance DRX Bruker, 250 MHz AC Bruker, (In-Charge Scientist Dr. K. Yannakopoulou, IPC) Miscellaneous Departmental Facilities Research Activities The laboratory has been involved in Supramolecular Structures of Cyclodextrins with small and large molecules. Cyclodextrins are cyclic sugars commonly composed of 6, 7, or 8 glucose units called α, β, γ-cyclodextrins, respectively. Viewed from the side, their shape resembles a trancated cone with a relatively hydrophobic cavity and a hydrophilic exterior, the multifunctional primary (upper) and secondary (lower) faces lined with –OH groups. A plethora of hydrophobic molecules are encapsulated in the cavity forming inclusion complexes. The above in combination with the fact that they are natural, water soluble compounds makes them candidates for many applications, especially as carriers for pharmaceutical compounds. Cyclodextrin host -guest systems have many characteristics of receptor-substrate systems and they have been used as models for catalysis. They have been used also as models for non-bonding interactions and H-bonding, usually with water molecules. Finally, cyclodextrins and their inclusion complexes have the ability to self assemble forming organized supramolecular systems. The group’s research based on cyclodextrins has acquired many and different directions: Inclusion Complexes for controlled release Molecular Recognition of Small molecules and Biomolecules Molecular Organisation and Self-Assembly Synthesis of Functional Cyclodextrin Derivatives Selected Publications Last Updated: Apr.26, 2005