Associate Researcher | CONICET | Argentina
Dr. Matías Ezequiel Aguirre, Associate Researcher and Professor at CONICET and the National University of Mar del Plata, is an accomplished physical and materials chemist specializing in photoinduced processes, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and hybrid photocatalytic systems for sustainable energy applications. His research career began at the National University of Mar del Plata, where he earned his Ph.D. in 2015 and was later honored with the I-APS G. Cilento Award for outstanding contributions to photochemistry. Dr. Aguirre made a landmark contribution to the field of visible-light CO₂ photoreduction, resulting in a publication exceeding 500 citations, establishing him as a leading voice in photocatalytic carbon conversion. Dr. Aguirre’s current work focuses on developing photoactive MOF-based biocatalysts and hybrid semiconductor systems that combine biological and synthetic components to drive CO₂ reduction, NADH regeneration, and solar energy conversion through artificial photosynthesis-inspired mechanisms. He has pioneered the integration of enzymes within MOFs, achieving efficient electron transfer and catalytic stability under mild conditions, as highlighted in recent publications in ChemCatChem and Chemistry – A European Journal. His studies on Cu₂O/TiO₂ heterostructures, MIL-125-NH₂ composites, and magnetic ZIF-8 supports have advanced the understanding of charge-transfer dynamics and photocorrosion mitigation in semiconductor materials. Beyond fundamental research, Dr. Aguirre has applied his expertise to medicinal cannabis analytics, serving as Technical Manager of the High-Level Technological Service (STAN) for HPLC and GC–MS-based cannabinoid quantification, bridging the gap between materials chemistry and bioanalytical applications. He has co-directed numerous funded research projects, mentored graduate students, and published 17 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals. His work has received 765 citations from 744 documents with an h-index of 8 (Scopus), reflecting both scientific quality and influence. Through his interdisciplinary approach uniting photocatalysis, bioinorganic chemistry, and renewable energy materials. Dr. Aguirre continues to contribute significantly to sustainable chemical innovation and environmental remediation.
Featured Publications
Aguirre, M. E., Slaboch, M. V., González, P. J., Ramírez, C. L., & Di Iorio, Y. (2025). Visible-light-driven CO₂ photoreduction assisted by reduced methyl viologen using MIL-125-NH₂ as a light harvester and scaffold for FDH immobilization. ChemCatChem, 17(0), e01120.
Albani, C. M., Fuentes, G., Ramírez, C. L., Pensel, P. E., Gatti, F., Albanese, A., Nutter, D., Aguirre, M. E., Di Iorio, Y. D., & Elissondo, M. C. (2024). Anthelmintic effect of cannabidiol against Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 9(35).
Moliné, M. de la P., Aguirre, M. E., Domínguez, E., Moran Giardini, P., Fernández, N. J., Damiani, N., Churio, M. S., & Gende, L. B. (2024). Ascorbyl/ascorbate ratio as a marker of oxidative stress in larvae (Apis mellifera) exposed to Paenibacillus larvae. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 269, 110896.
Aguirre, M. E., Ramírez, C. L., & Di Iorio, Y. (2023). Stable and reusable Fe₃O₄/ZIF-8 composite for encapsulation of FDH enzyme in mild conditions applicable to CO₂ reduction. Chemistry – A European Journal, 29(1), e202301113.
Aguirre, M. E., Orallo, D. E., Suárez, P. A., & Ramírez, C. L. (2023). Galenic formulations of Cannabis sativa: Comparison of the chemical properties of extracts obtained by simple protocols using lipidic vehicles. Natural Product Research, 37(28), 1–6.