IMEM - Innovation in Materials and Molecular Engineering
The Innovation in Materials and Molecular Engineering (IMEM) Group at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) advances research in macromolecular chemistry and nanoengineering to design, develop, and understand innovative soft and hard materials.
By exploring the relationship between material structure, properties, and functionality at the micro- and nanoscale, we develop advanced materials for applications in biomedicine, energy, environmental technologies, catalysis, and corrosion protection. Our research encompasses polymers, hydrogels, supramolecular structures, electroactive materials, bioceramics, and functional coatings, combining fundamental science with materials engineering to address real-world challenges.
At IMEM, we believe that scientific research should contribute to meaningful progress. Through interdisciplinary research and collaboration with academic and industrial partners, we aim to transform materials innovation into practical solutions that advance human health, sustainability, and technological development.
(A) Electrochemical sensors for the detection of bacterial infections have been developed and used as precursors of (B) new multi-tasking platforms for controlled antibiotic-release and real-time monitoring of the bacterial infections (Adv. Healthc. Mater. 2021, 3, 2100425; Adv. Healthc. Mater. 2021, 10, 2001636.
The hydrogen bonding topology of SARS-CoV-2 spike homotrimeric glycoprotein homotrimer undergoes drastic changes with increasing temperature, which are more pronounced in the open up state (Comput. Struct. Biotech. J. 2021, 19, 1848-1862.
Digital images of an epoxy coating without (left) and with (right) PC-ProTec after 40 days of accelerated corrosion assays in NaCl 3.5 wt %.
Permanently polarized hydroxyapatite has been employed as catalyst to transform CO2 and N2 in ethanol and ammonium, respectively (Chem. Commun. 2021, 57, 5163-5166).
News
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Today, we celebrate a special achievement within the IMEM Group! Our colleague David Alejandro Naranjo Tovar has successfully defended his PhD thesis, entitled “Multifunctional Hydrogels para...
Congratulations, Dr. David Alejandro Naranjo Tovar! 🎓 -
Representatives of the IMEM Group at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) attended the first edition of the FAR Awards, organized by the Catalan newspaper ARA on October 15, 2026, at the...
IMEM Group Representatives Attend the First ARA FAR Awards
