Molecular engineering

Molecular engineering designs and builds molecules and molecular-scale systems to produce useful chemical, biological, or material functions.

Connect

Molecular self-assembly: The spontaneous organization of molecules into ordered structures through noncovalent interactions. Self-assembly turns designed molecular interactions into larger functional structures.
Molecular design: The planning of molecular structures to achieve specified properties or functions. It is the design stage that translates a desired function into a molecular structure.
Drug delivery: The transport of therapeutic agents to specific sites in the body at controlled rates. Engineered molecules can protect drugs, target tissues, and control release.
Richard Feynman: An American physicist whose 1959 lecture proposed manipulating and building at very small scales. His vision of manipulating matter atom by atom helped frame nanoscale engineering.
Nanotechnology: The science and engineering of structures and devices with dimensions typically measured in nanometers. Nanotechnology is broader, spanning materials and devices beyond molecularly designed systems.
Supramolecular chemistry: The study of organized assemblies held together by noncovalent interactions rather than covalent bonds. It provides strategies for building adaptable systems from interacting molecules.
Chemical synthesis: The creation of chemical compounds through controlled reactions between substances. Synthesis turns proposed molecular designs into physical compounds.
Molecular electronics: The study and use of individual molecules as components in electronic devices. It applies molecular control to electrical functions and device architectures.
Jean-Marie Lehn: A French chemist whose work established supramolecular chemistry as a field. His host–guest chemistry showed how molecular recognition could guide organized systems.
Materials science: The study and engineering of materials, their structures, properties, and performance. Materials science often targets bulk performance, while molecular engineering begins with molecular design.