Cooperations

Department of Biophysics

Research

The Biophysics Department conducts interdisciplinary research at the interface of biomolecular function, physical chemistry and radiochemistry. The activities contribute to the Helmholtz Research Programmes Nuclear Safety and Cancer Research in the Helmholtz-Association. We are member of the Cluster of Excellence "Physics of Life" (PoL) in Dresden.

We are particularly interested in:

structural and dynamic aspects of biomembranes
conformational transitions in membrane proteins
interactions between (radio)metals and biomolecules
effects of metals and radionuclides on the metabolism of microorganisms (Televised MDR report)

Education

The Biophysics department participates in the Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering (DIGS-BB) supported by the Excellence Initiative of the German federal and state governments.

Practicals on Molecular Spectroscopy and Calorimetry are offered. The following lectures are held at the technische Universität Dresden and are elgible for the Master Specialization "Soft Condensed Matter and Biological Physics":

Biological Thermodynamics (English, summer semester)
Biophysical Methods (German, winter semester)

Seminar lectures for the International BIOTEC-Master Programme,

Vibrational Spectroscopy (English)
Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopy (English)

Experimental Methods

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Circular dichroism
Static and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy
Calorimetry
Mass-Spectroscopy

Spectroscopic data are evaluated in combination with Density Functional Theory to understand photochemoical and photophysical properties of organic complexes of actinides.

Latest publication

Enhanced Thermodynamic Stability of UO22+ Complex through Structure Preorganization of N3O2-Pentadentate Planar Ligand for Uranium Harvesting from Seawater

Nabata, R.; Tsushima, S.; Takao, K.

Abstract

Uranium harvesting from seawater is recently attracting special attention as promising and sustainable resource option of this primary nuclear energy source. Through appropriate preorganization of the ligand backbone, we have achieved a remarkable enhancement in the coordination affinity of an N3O2-pentadentate planar ligand with UO22+ by 6 orders of magnitude compared to bis(2-hydroxyphenylmethylaminoethyl)amine (H2saldian) recognized as the strongest U-chelator under seawater condition. 2,6-Bis(2-hydroxyphenylmethylaminomethyl)pyridine (H2saldamp) was confirmed to form a 1:1 complex, UO2(saldamp), in a simulated seawater. Its thermodynamic stability (log βU = 33.60 ± 0.01) is superior not only to UO2(saldian) (log βU = 28.05), but also to any UO22+ complexes bearing amidoxime-based/-inspired ligands reported so far. H2saldamp also exhibits notable separability of UO22+ from other concomitant ions, including VO2+, Al3+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ as pronounced by separation factors of >1012. While contamination of U by V is one of issues to be resolved in U harvesting from seawater, their perfect separation can be anticipated using H2saldamp due to its negligible affinity for VO2+. Further preorganization by replacing the H2saldian backbone with bis(2-aminophenyl)amine (H2saldiphan) and 1,9-diaminophenazine (H2salphenazine) proved unsuccessful, implying that Lewis-basicity of all coordinating atoms and equatorial planarity around UO22+ must also be taken into consideration.

Advanced Science (2026)
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202522146

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-42689

More publications

Team

Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Head
Prof. Dr. Karim Fahmy	801/P301	2952 3601	k.fahmyhzdr.de
Employees
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Dr. Björn Drobot	801/P302	2978	b.drobothzdr.de
Prof. Dr. Satoru Tsushima	801/P302	2978	s.tsushimahzdr.de
Other employees
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Dr. Charlotte Kielar	801/P303	3247 3892	c.kielarhzdr.de

Physical Chemistry of Biomolecular Condensates

Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Head
Dr. Ellen Adams	801/P301	2911	e.adamshzdr.de
Employees
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Artur Czajkowski	801/P303	3375	a.czajkowskihzdr.de
Likhitha Chakra Priya Pulibandla	801/P303	3375	l.pulibandlahzdr.de
Manthan Raj	801/P303	3375	m.rajhzdr.de