Theoretical Soft Matter Group

Research topics

Phase behaviour of anisotropic fluids 

Anisotropic molecules and supramolecules show distinct phase behavior which is unobtainable with spherically symmetric components. In particular, thermodynamically stable phases appear, which show nematic, smectic, columnar order and more generally display a competition between order and disorder, which can be tuned by the geometry of particles. In our group, we study the phase behaviour of these objects focussing on the understanding of the general parameters that drive the transition between thermodynamic phases.

Coarse-grained modelling of proteins and nucleic acids

Proteins and nucleic acids have a paramount importance in the functioning of all living matter. Furthermore, it is increasingly becoming more common to engineer such molecules in order to use them for specific functions, such as drug delivery or to obtain materials with specific properties. In our group, we build coarse-grained models at the nanoscale level to be used in computer simulations that help understand the underlying physics of proteins and nucleic acids in solutions, and to help rationalize the design of artificial systems that build upon their peculiar properties.

Solvation processes in polymers and biopolimers

Using molecular dynamics and thermodynamic integration, we study the solvationprocess in water and organic solvents of biopolymers, polipeptides and synthetic polymers. In this way we are able to quantify the definition of " poor" and " good" solvents as well as the definition of hydrophobic and polar solvents and solutes, and put them on a well defined physical basis.