Hot Topic: Excited State Processes in Biomolecules

About this Research Topic

Background

In celebration of the most impactful areas of research in Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics, we are proud to present this feature Hot Topic* collection to highlight some of the recent advances in experimental and computational studies of excited state processes in biomolecules.

Biological molecules are macromolecules naturally present in cells and living organisms, as well as their man-made counterparts designed for specific functions. Biomolecules vary in size and are categorised into four main types: nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins along with their smaller building-blocks, such as amino acids or nucleobases. Naturally biomolecules are exposed to the sunlight, giving rise to the desired processes such as the energy conversion in light-harvesting proteins or the undesired ones such as DNA damage by the UV irradiations. In addition, the light-matter interaction in biomolecules can be explored for the technology or medical applications such as energy storage, biosensing or photo-activated drug delivery.

Biomolecules are involved in energy storage, electrochemical sensing, catalysis of various biochemical reactions, and other biomedical applications. Biomolecules research is important for disease diagnostics, environmental monitoring and pharmaceutical development. Some of the challenges include physical surface modifications for biosensing surfaces, characterization of molecular machines and their biosystems, description of charge transport over long distances, monitoring concentrations of biomolecules in their natural environment, etc. This Research Topic aims to cover recent advances in various aspects of photo-chemistry and photo-physics of biomolecules, including (but not limited to):
• Characterisation of biomolecules structures and properties, as well as their bio-environment
• Dynamics and kinetic behaviours of biomolecules
• Recent advances and technology for biomolecules detection
• Spectroscopy of biomolecules
• Surface chemistry and biosensing
• Excited state processes in biomolecules

*Hot Topic collections are hand-selected in collaboration with our Chief Editors, with the aim to feature the most cutting-edge research within a given field of chemistry. As such, submissions to this collection will benefit from increased visibility via promotion on social media and at conferences.

Keywords: Biomolecules, Biosensors, Biosystems, Chemical sensing, Excited states

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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