Fluorescent Probes for Sensing Processes in/with Polymers

A new event is included in the series of "Science Connections Seminar" organized by the Department of Applied Science and Technology-DISAT, titled Fluorescent Probes for Sensing Processes in/with Polymers with Paula Bosch from Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Polimeros (ICTP).

Abstract
Polymers are probably the most outstanding materials. They show an amazing versatility of properties, so they are employed for a huge variety of applications. They can be used as structural materials (for packaging, automotive industry, coatings, flooring, textiles, engineering materials, etc.) or as functional materials, in which a specific function can be provided by the material (desalination membranes, intelligent polymers, drug delivery, information storage, sensors, etc.). Fluorescence spectroscopy is now a dominant methodology used extensively in the biomedical and materials fields. It is an extremely sensitive technique currently applied in diverse areas as a detection method. Specifically, the use of molecules in which the structure is designed with a signaling unit that can be activated by a molecular recognition event or changes in their surroundings (fluorescent probes) can be used to construct sensors.
In this lecture, an overview of fluorescence spectroscopy as an analytical technique will be given. Special emphasis will be placed on the use of fluorescent probes together with polymers to detect or quantify different processes, such as changes in material properties or the presence of analytes. The dual aspect of using fluorescent probes to detect processes inside a polymer material, or using polymers as a support for fluorescence probes, will be explained.

Speaker: Paula Bosch from Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Polimeros (ICTP).

Biography
Paula Bosch is Senior Researcher and head of the group "Synthesis" at ICTP-CSIC. In the last 15 years, her research has been focused on photopolymerization processes, functionalization of polymers, synthesis of fluorescent probes, and antimicrobial polymers. She has been a member of the core group of CSIC for the management of research during the COVID pandemic, being the coordinator of the line "EPIs: new materials for face masks and virucidal treatments of surfaces." She has held several scientific responsibilities: Director of the Institute of Science and Technology of Polymers (CSIC), President of the Center for Organic Chemistry (CENQUIOR-CSIC), and currently, she is Deputy President of the Association for the Development of Science and Technology (FOCITEC-Spain).