ChemUniCologne

ChemUniCologne

@chemunicologne.bsky.social

Official account of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Cologne, sharing news about teaching and research. To learn more please visit https://chemie.uni-koeln.de/.

82 followers76 following9 posts

ChemUniCologne reposted

Biointegrated Photonics Lab
@schubertlab.bsky.social

Happy to share our new publication on liquid crystal #microlasers. We show that bipolar spheres confine light in only a single plane. Interestingly, the bipolar refractive index profile also induces a splitting of the whispering gallery modes. Why? Check-out the paper to find out! #WGM #research

advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.comPurely Equatorial Lasing in Spherical Liquid Crystal Polymer Microlasers with Bipolar Refractive Index ProfileSpherical liquid crystal polymer microlasers with a bipolar configuration confine lasing to a single equatorial plane, allowing precise control over where the laser emission is generated. The anisotr...

ChemUniCologne reposted

TIDE (RTG 2591)
@tide-rtg.bsky.social

Our TIDE #PhDstudents and PIs came together for a few inspiring days of exchanging knowledge, sharing ideas. From stimulating discussions and collaborative team-building activities, the retreat was a great opportunity to strengthen connections and build our TIDE community. #PhDLife

ChemUniCologne reposted

Universität zu Köln
@unicologne.bsky.social

📖Das neue #Unimagazin ist da Diesmal erfahren wir, wie KI StimmPaten*innen ersetzen könnte, und ob politische Ansichten bei der Partnersuche eine Rolle spielen. Außerdem schauen wir auf den Wohnungsmarkt für Studierende. Auch online und als PDF verfügbar ➡️uni.koeln/MHWK8

ChemUniCologne reposted

Universität zu Köln
@unicologne.bsky.social

🥳 Herzlich willkommen im Wintersemester 2026/27 an der #UniKöln Dieses Semester starten rund 4300 Studierende, die wir heute Morgen bei der Erstsemesterbegrüßung WELCOME ON CAMPUS vor Ort in der Aula und online im Livestream begrüßt haben ➡️ uni-koeln.de/studium-lehre

ChemUniCologne reposted

Universität zu Köln
@unicologne.bsky.social

🎉 We are excellent The #UniCologne has succeeded with its proposal “Neue Universität: Continuous Change – Successful Renewal” and has been awarded the status of a ‘University of Excellence’ as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments ➡️uni.koeln/SWUK7

ChemUniCologne reposted

Universität zu Köln
@unicologne.bsky.social

🧑‍🏫Forschung wirkt durch praxisnahe Wissenschaftserfahrung Prof. Dr. Uwe Ruschewitz bringt Schüler*innen mit Forschung in Kontakt und zeigt in Lehr- und Lernlaboren, wie praxisnahe Wissenschaft für Studien- und Berufsfelder begeistern kann. Mehr dazu ➡️ uni.koeln/BF3CU

ChemUniCologne reposted

Universität zu Köln
@unicologne.bsky.social

🎉#UniKöln erneut auf Rang 2 der gründungsfreundlichsten Hochschulen Die Universität zu Köln bringt besonders viele Gründerinnen und Gründer hervor – dies gilt 2026 wie bereits auch in den Vorjahren. Nur die RWTH Aachen bringt mehr Gründerinnen und Gründer hervor➡️https://uni.koeln/X3HS7

ChemUniCologne reposted

Daniel Friedrich
@friedrichlab.bsky.social

We are very happy to share our new publication in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry on #antiviralpeptides against SARS-CoV-2 and their #NMR-based structural characterisation: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.comAromatic π-Stacking Stabilizes an α-Helical SARS-CoV-2 MPER Peptide that Mimics the Post-Fusion Spike and Enables Potent Antiviral ActivityMembrane fusion between SARS-CoV-2 and host cells is mediated by the spike protein and involves the membrane-proximal external region (MPER), a trypto…
ChemUniCologne
@chemunicologne.bsky.social

🎉Important day for our Department! The construction of the new building for Chemistry and for Teacher Education is progressing at pace. Completion of the first part is anticipated for 2029🤞, enabling research and teaching in close proximity. And it already looks FANTASTIC!

Universität zu Köln@unicologne.bsky.social

⚗️🧪 Universität zu Köln legt Grundstein der neuen Chemie Heute, am 1. Juni, wurde der Grundstein für die Neubauten der Chemischen Institute für die Bereiche Chemie und Biochemie und der Didaktiken in einem feierlichen Akt gelegt. Mehr dazu ▶️ uni.koeln/EX7YJ #uniköln #unicologne #unibaut #chemie

ChemUniCologne reposted

Daniel Friedrich
@friedrichlab.bsky.social

Congratulations @gabriellapetti.bsky.social and @teamthomma.bsky.social on this fantastic study! It has been a pleasure collaborating with you, and we are very happy to have contributed with #NMR to such an exciting project. We truly enjoyed working together with you!

Gabriella Petti@gabriellapetti.bsky.social

Excited to share our latest study with @nicksnelders.bsky.social and @teamthomma.bsky.social! We uncover the mode of action of the V. dahliae antimicrobial effector Ave1 and show that it binds LTA and disrupts bacterial membranes 🦠 www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...

biorxiv.orgbiorxiv.org

ChemUniCologne reposted

Daniel Friedrich
@friedrichlab.bsky.social

Many thanks again for the great collaboration @gabriellapetti.bsky.social and @teamthomma.bsky.social!

Team Thomma@teamthomma.bsky.social

📣Last week another @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social dropped: "A fungal pathogen effector that shapes host plant microbiota kills bacteria through lipoteichoic acid binding and membrane disruption" a joint effort by @nicksnelders.bsky.social & @gabriellapetti.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

biorxiv.orgbiorxiv.org
ChemUniCologne
@chemunicologne.bsky.social

📣 Looking for a #PhD position in #organic #electronics, #molecular #templates or #optoelectronic devices? Then check out the new funding round of the research training group TIDE! Up to 13 projects available 👇

TIDE (RTG 2591)@tide-rtg.bsky.social

The #DFG funded TIDE RTG invites applications for up to 13 #PhDPositions starting in April 2027 across the @unicologne.bsky.social, @unibonn.bsky.social, and @uni-wuppertal.bsky.social. Learn more and apply: tide.uni-koeln.de/open-positions jobportal.uni-koeln.de/bewerben/2616 #PhD #Hiring #jobs

ChemUniCologne
@chemunicologne.bsky.social

New publication from the lab of Prof. Mathur: "Mannose-Conjugation Resolves the Efficiency–Toxicity Trade-Off in Amine Functionalized Silica Nanocarriers via Tunable pH-Responsive Drug Release" pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

pubs.acs.orgMannose-Conjugation Resolves the Efficiency–Toxicity Trade-Off in Amine Functionalized Silica Nanocarriers via Tunable pH-Responsive Drug ReleaseMesoporous silica nanoparticles (mSiO2–NPs) are efficient drug delivery vehicles, yet their surface chemistry critically dictates payload uptake, therapeutic efficiency, and biocompatibility. Conventional organic coatings on the surface, such as polyethylenimine (PEI), improve drug loading capacity but substantiate cytotoxicity, while inorganic coatings/surface functionalization (e.g., (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS)) grafting reduces toxicity but offers uncontrolled drug release. Here, we present the first systematic comparison of APTMS- and PEI-functionalized mSiO2, with and without mannose conjugation, to establish how sequential surface modification governs nicotinic acid (NA) loading, release kinetics, and cellular response. Using NA as a model drug, PEI-coated carriers achieved the highest loading (DEE = 83%) and sustained, pH-responsive release (41% in 24 h at pH 5.5) but displayed pronounced cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Mannose conjugation substantially reduced this toxicity, while maintaining drug loading efficiency and enhancing cellular uptake in both epithelial and immune cell cultures. Notably, mannose-functionalized PEI carriers exhibited targeted, stimulus-sensitive release and selective enrichment in monocyte subsets without inducing immune activation, consistent with uptake mediated by carbohydrate-binding receptors confirmed via confocal colocalization analysis. These findings establish mannose coating as an effective strategy to reconcile efficiency and safety in amine-functionalized silica nanocarriers, providing a practical design principle for targeted and biocompatible drug delivery systems.

ChemUniCologne reposted

Universität zu Köln
@unicologne.bsky.social

📰 Das neue #Unimagazin ist da🎉 Diesmal mit einer Allianz fürs Leben, Verschwörungstheorien am Küchentisch und wie Forschung auf den Markt oder auch ans Krankenbett kommt. 🤝📈🏥 Alle Artikel sind auch online und als PDF verfügbar 🔗 uni.koeln/MHWK8 📲 #uniköln #unicologne #unimagazin #liebedeineuni

ChemUniCologne reposted

TIDE (RTG 2591)
@tide-rtg.bsky.social

The 3rd retreat of TIDE #ReserachTrainingGroup with the second cohort of #PhDstudents took place in Bad-Honnef. We spent three days sharing ideas and learning from each other through talks and poster sessions. We also enjoyed plenty of coffee breaks and had a great time on a fun excursion. #PhDLife

ChemUniCologne reposted

Universität zu Köln
@unicologne.bsky.social

🚀 Ready to explore AI? Der Onlinekurs über ILIAS zeigt dir, wie Künstliche Intelligenz funktioniert, welche Chancen und Risiken ihr Einsatz bietet und vieles mehr. Dich erwarten 💡 kompakte Lerninhalte 💻 praxisnahe Beispiele 🤖 interaktive Elemente Mehr dazu 🔗uni.koeln/6JUAN #uniköln #unicologne

ChemUniCologne reposted

Daniel Friedrich
@friedrichlab.bsky.social

Excited to share a new preprint from our group @chemunicologne.bsky.social @unicologne.bsky.social! chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.... Big thanks to our collaborators at University of Florence! #NMR #StructuralBiology #AntiviralResearch #Peptides #SARSCoV2 #DrugDesign #Biophysics #Collaboration

chemrxiv.orgAromatic π-Stacking Stabilizes an α-Helical SARS-CoV-2 MPER Peptide that Mimics the Post-Fusion Spike and Enables Potent Antiviral Activity | ChemRxivMembrane fusion between SARS-CoV-2 and host cells is mediated by the spike protein and involves the membrane-proximal external region (MPER), a tryptophan-rich sequence implicated in viral entry. Here, we investigated the feasibility of MPER-derived ...

ChemUniCologne reposted

Erik Strub
@erikstrub.bsky.social

39th "Technetium Matters" online seminar on zoom Thursday March 19th 16:00 MET Vijay Kumar (HZDR Dresden) "Pyrite solubility and its capacity to immobilize technetium-99 in metabolite-rich environments" Please send me a DM if you like to participate. 🧪

ChemUniCologne reposted

TIDE (RTG 2591)
@tide-rtg.bsky.social

To support and empower our female PhD students, TIDE organizes the Women at Science event. This week, three #FemaleRoleModels shared insights into their career journeys during relaxed small-group discussions, giving students the chance to ask questions and connect. #WomenInScience #PhDLife

ChemUniCologne reposted

TIDE (RTG 2591)
@tide-rtg.bsky.social

TIDE’s #SpringSchool for the 2nd cohort took place this month with partners in Bayreuth and Erlangen. Through poster sessions and talks, students exchanged ideas, built connections, and strengthened their networks. #PhDLife #Research

ChemUniCologne reposted

Universität zu Köln
@unicologne.bsky.social

🧬🔬 A research team led by @kathlab.bsky.social has developed an artificial DNA base pair that works according to a new chemical principle. In contrast to natural bases, the novel artificial base pairs use halogen bonds that are enzymatically incorporated into DNA. Read more: ➡️ uni.koeln/AP4XF

uni.koelnArtificial DNA base pair developed based on halogen bondsA research team at the University of Cologne has developed an artificial DNA base pair that works according to a new chemical principle. In contrast to natural bases, the novel artificial base pairs u...

ChemUniCologne reposted

Universität zu Köln
@unicologne.bsky.social

✂️ Tie off When Professor Dr Sanjay Mathur arrived in Cologne, he soon experienced a culture shock: during his first Carnival, a colleague snipped off his tie to great applause. Coming from India and having worked in Saarbrücken and Würzburg, he wasn’t prepared for this tradition ▶️ uni.koeln/VGD7X

ChemUniCologne reposted

Stephanie Kath-Schorr
@kathlab.bsky.social

New paper in @jacs.acspublications.org 🎉: A de novo designed unnatural base pair that exploits halogen bonding as pairing force in DNA for genetic alphabet expansion. 🧬 ⚗️ @unicologne.bsky.social @chemunicologne.bsky.social @breugstlab.bsky.social pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1...

pubs.acs.orgInvestigating Halogen Bonds as Pairing Force in an Artificial DNA Base PairThe past decades have seen significant expansion of the nucleic acid space with the development of modified artificial base pairs based on natural nucleic acid analogues and even entirely new designed base pairs. This expansion has led to tremendous potential for applications such as site-specific labeling and structural investigations. However, natural nucleic acids rely strongly on hydrogen bonding as the attraction force, which has driven the development of artificial base pairs that adapt this mechanism. To achieve orthogonality with natural bases, unnatural base pairs with alternative attraction forces, such as hydrophobic interactions, have been developed which however can perturb duplex structures. Our work introduces a completely newly designed artificial base pair that leverages halogen bonding (R–Hal···) as a directional hydrogen bonding-like interaction. We report computational studies that led to the development of this novel unnatural base pair and its synthesis. Our results demonstrate the successful acceptance of a bulky iodinated nucleoside triphosphate by KlenTaq DNA polymerase, enabling the selective enzymatic synthesis of a DNA strand containing the dIIPO–doIPP base pair. Our work presents the first demonstration of a novel base pair with halogen bonding potential that is enzymatically incorporated into DNA.

ChemUniCologne reposted

TIDE (RTG 2591)
@tide-rtg.bsky.social

Congratulations to Robert Herzhoff on the successful completion of his #PhD on "Atomistic modelling of organic electrodes for electrochemical devices". We are proud to celebrate this important academic milestone and wish him every success in his future career. #ProudPI #PhDone #Research

ChemUniCologne reposted

TIDE (RTG 2591)
@tide-rtg.bsky.social

Some of the TIDE members attended the #MRSFallMeeting in Boston, where they presented their latest research results and exchanged ideas with fellow scientists. The conference offered a valuable platform for scientific discussion and networking. An inspiring and rewarding experience! #ResearchLife

ChemUniCologne reposted

Erik Strub
@erikstrub.bsky.social

New paper with Stefan of the Wickleder group. Radioactive Technetium meets aggressive SO3. What can/might/will happen? @unicologne.bsky.social @chemunicologne.bsky.social 🧪 doi.org/10.1002/chem...

doi.org(NH4)2[Tc2O2(S2O7)4]: An Unexpected Technetium(V)‐Sulfate From the Reaction of (NH4)(TcO4) With SO3The reaction of the radioactive pertechnetate (99TcO4)− with the oxidizer SO3 leads to blue crystals of (NH4)2[Tc2O2(S2O7)4]. The complex dimeric [Tc2O2(S2O7)4]2− anion exhibits the technetium in the...

ChemUniCologne reposted

TIDE (RTG 2591)
@tide-rtg.bsky.social

From July-October, Benedikt completed a research residency at @UofT with @Prof. Alán Aspuru-Guzik, insights into the structure and operation of #selfdrivinglaboratories, #QuantumComputing algorithms, and advanced #MachineLearning approaches in #ComputationalChemistry. #phdlife #ResearchStay

ChemUniCologne reposted

TIDE (RTG 2591)
@tide-rtg.bsky.social

We are delighted to congratulate Wing-Si on her successful PhD defense earlier this month on topic “Synthesis of Squaraines and their Application in Optoelectronic Devices”. Best wishes for the exciting journey ahead of you. #ProudPI #PhDone

ChemUniCologne reposted

Erik Strub
@erikstrub.bsky.social

Marcos first first-author paper is online, congrats! Technetium paper #9 since we started Tc chemistry in 2019. @unicologne.bsky.social @chemunicologne.bsky.social 🧪 link.springer.com/article/10.1...

link.springer.comComparison of standard and modified 99Mo/99mTc radionuclide generators - Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry99mTc is the most widely used radionuclide in medical diagnostics and typically obtained from high-specific-activity (HSA) 99Mo produced in nuclear reactors. However, recent reactor shutdowns have led to supply shortages and prompted efforts to implement alternative production methods. One promising approach is neutron activation of 98Mo, which yields low-specific-activity (LSA) 99Mo. Since conventional Al2O3-based 99Mo/99mTc generators are designed for HSA 99Mo, adaptations are required for LSA 99Mo usage. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of modifying existing Al2O3-based 99Mo/99mTc generators for use with LSA 99Mo, anticipating production at the planned high brilliance neutron source (HBS) at Forschungszentrum Jülich. Key modifications included adjustments to the amount of Al2O3 on the column and the elution volume of 99mTc to enhance 99Mo adsorption and 99mTc elution efficiency. The performance of the modified “mock-up” system was compared with a standard clinical generator. The results demonstrated that only minor modifications are required for LSA 99Mo to be effectively utilized in a future generator, with elution efficiencies remaining comparable to conventional generators, while maintaining parameters like size, form, number, activity of the individual generator comparable. However, 99Mo breakthrough levels exceeded regulatory limits, highlighting the need for further optimization. Nevertheless, these findings support the feasibility of using LSA 99Mo in clinical applications with minimal changes to existing infrastructure.

ChemUniCologne reposted

Stephanie Kath-Schorr
@kathlab.bsky.social

Honored to share some big news: I’m now tenured as a W3 Professor of Organic Chemistry @UniCologne! Immensely grateful to all the group members who contributed to this journey🙏 — this milestone is ours to share. @ChemUniCologne #OrganicChemistry #Tenure 🍾🎉🧪🧬

ChemUniCologne reposted

Erik Strub
@erikstrub.bsky.social

First "first author"-paper of Clarence is online, congrats! doi.org/10.1002/zaac... @chemunicologne.bsky.social @unicologne.bsky.social 🧪

doi.orgInsights into Potassium 18‐Crown‐6 Complexes with Pertechnetate and Perrhenate: A Structural and Computational Study of their Coordination ChemistryThe synthesis, crystal structures, and characterization of potassium 18 crown 6 complexes with tetrahedral oxoanions, [K(18 crown 6)][XO4] (X = Tc, Re), are reported. X-ray diffraction analysis, Rama...