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Cell-instructive Materials
The team is comprised of interdisciplinary researchers, including biochemists, chemists, and material scientists. We are part of the Department of Synthesis of Macromolecules at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany. We develop molecularly programmable and cell-instructive soft materials: Our research aims to establish a unified framework in which hierarchical molecular design principles govern structural order and emergent mechanical behavior across multiple length scales - from nanometre-scale structure formation to bulk hydrogel mechanics and applications. By programming this information directly into the sequence, we create materials that mimic the structural sophistication of biological systems while enabling synthetic tunability and robustness.
Central to this vision is the ability to engineer peptide and DNA sequences that organize through predictable supramolecular interactions, directional motifs, and cooperative hydrophobic/hydrophilic patterning.
These advances pave the way for peptide-based soft materials that couple structural precision with adaptability and have the potential to transform biofabrication processes and to create far-reaching opportunities in personal care, regenerative medicine, and other fields.