Presentation of LAMBE

The laboratory was created on January 1st, 1996 through the merger of two teams. One was led by J-P. Morizur and was based at the Pierre and Marie Curie University, while the other was led by P.Toulhoat and was based au CEA Saclay within the Nuclear Energy Division (DEN). The UMR 8587, entitled « Laboratoire Analyse et Environnement » (LAE), had the initial objective of bringing together expertise in organic structural analysis and inorganic analytical chemistry within a single structure.

Since January 1st, 2022, the laboratory has been under the direction of Mr. Régis Daniel. The LAMBE is currently organized into four teams:

    • Structure-reactivity of biomolecules: organometallic and macromolecular complexes
    • Interactions of complex molecular assemblies: theory and modeling
    • Reactivity at interfaces in the environment
    • Polymer Materials at Interfaces

    The name of the unit, "Analysis, Modeling, Materials for Biology and Environment", reflects the research themes and expertise of its different teams.

      Analytical Chemistry, a strong identity of the unit revolves around several important means, including modern organic and biological mass spectrometry, notably through innovative couplings (nano-LC-HRMS, CE-MS and SPR-MS), as well as chemical analysis methods (UV, capillary electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography and ion chromatography), electrochemical methods (quartz microbalance, etc.), or radiochemical methods, available in particular at the Saclay site (various spectroscopies) as well as physical methods, whether for single molecule analysis by electrical detection using nanopores, or the study of the mechanical properties of cells by atomic force microscopy (AFM).

      The Modeling, plays a transversal role, supporting the themes of the UMR, ranging from the physicochemistry of biomolecules in the gas phase, to the study of specific interactions or the three-dimensional structure of proteins, to the reactivity of chemical species in solution and at solid-solution interfaces in the environment, to the interpretation of spectroscopic data (SFG, vibrational, etc.), and even to the atomistic modeling of hard aqueous cations of radionuclides for the environment.

       

       

      Biology, the field of environmental science, strongly established in Evry, is now definitively included in the projects of the UMR. The unit's expertise in the analysis of biomolecules and macromolecular associations by mass spectrometry, as well as the recent establishment of an AFM platform, will allow it to develop and deploy new research topics in collaboration with stakeholders in the life sciences and medicine.

       

       

      Environment, The research activities in this area focus on (i) the study of corrosion processes of confinement devices, (ii) the development of innovative materials applied to the mineralization of organic pollutants present in natural or wastewater, (iii) the detection of heavy metals at trace levels in natural or laboratory-recreated environments, and (iv) the valorization of monomers from renewable species.

       

       

       

      Two other research areas complement this panel of expertise :

      • The synthesis of polymers and biomaterials : Applied biophysics applied to biology, involving on the one hand the synthesis of polymer vectors for gene therapy (structure and mode of operation in vitro and in vivo), and on the other hand, the synthesis of biomaterials by polymerization of compounds extracted from biomass (sustainable development and search for new properties...).
      • Biophysics : This is achieved notably through the study of the transport of single macromolecules through natural, synthetic or artificial nanometric pores (confinement dynamics, conformation, folding, sequencing of proteins, sugars and nucleic acids), or through the study of the biomechanical properties of tumor cells.

      The laboratory's research activities are based on multidisciplinary approaches at the interface of disciplines such as analysis, gas-phase physicochemistry, solution physicochemistry, solute-material interface physicochemistry, electrochemistry, and modeling. The UMR's expertise is complementary, combining experimental and theoretical approaches to address issues applied to Life Sciences and Environment.