1. Polytech

EMNS

EMNS - Engineering of Molecular NanoSystems

WELCOME !

The EMNS Lab is part of the Chemistry and Materials Science Department of the Brussels School of Engineering and is active in various research topics with applications mainly in the field of Health and Environment.

NANOMATERIALS FOR SENSING APPLICATIONS

Nano-bioconjugates combine the exceptional properties of  nanomaterials,  such as the LSPR band of gold and silver nanostructures, with those of biological macromolecules. They  are valuable tools which can lead to sensors with extreme selectivity and sensitivity or to smart Drug Delivery Systems and theranostic agents.
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MOLECULAR RECOGNITION: from organic solvents to water

Molecular receptors capable of binding neutral or charged guests with a high affinity and selectivity have potential applications in fields ranging from biological and environmental monitoring to separation science and drug delivery. A notable challenge in the field is the development of receptors that work in an aqueous medium, where most biological and environmental processes occur. 
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ION TRANSPORT ACROSS LIPID BILAYERS

Synthetic ion transporters are seen as potential therapeutic agents able to restore malfunctions in the natural anion transport across biological membranes by proteins. Our work focuses on the physico-chemical characterization of transmembrane ion transport by organic carriers, with a focus on chloride transport.
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News

All news of the EMNS Lab

Congratulations to Dr Chvojka for his PhD defence and Jean-Marie Lehn Prize !

July 1, 2025

On 15 May 2025, Matúš CHVOJKA has successfully defended his PhD thesis “Fluorinated bambusurils as anion receptors and transmembrane transporters".

The Nano Team took part in GOLD 2025

June 30, 2025

The EMNS laboratory was strongly represented at the GOLD 2025 conference, which took place in the beautiful city of San Sebastián.

Raphaël's works on Gold Nanoparticles has been published in Bioconjugate Chemistry as ACS Editor's choice!

May 23, 2025

Gold Nanoparticles Coated with Nucleic Acids: An Overview of the Different Bioconjugation Pathways, by Raphaël Dutour and Gilles Bruylants - First published: 21 May 2025

New publication in Angewandte Chemie

April 29, 2025

Tuning CH Hydrogen Bond-Based Receptors toward Picomolar Anion Affinity via the Inductive Effect of Distant Substituents, by Matúš Chvojka, Dr. Dominik Madea, Dr. Hennie Valkenier, Prof. Vladimír Šindelář - First published: 08 December 2023

EMNS researchers go abroad for advanced experiments

April 29, 2025

A short tour of Europe this February...