Welcome to the homepage of the Cell-Instructive Materials Group! 

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 cell-instructive soft materials: Our research focuses on multifunctional hybrid hydrogels for medicinal applications such as tissue engineering and drug delivery employing various biomolecules such as proteins, peptides, and DNA. Such soft materials that instruct cellular functions to e.g., restore damaged tissue while allowing minimally invasive application and therapeutic options are in high demand in regenerative medicine.

Inspired by the complex interplay of molecules in Nature, we explore the combination of the stability of covalent bonds with the dynamic behavior introduced by supramolecular chemistry and develop cell-instructive materials as active matrices featuring interactivity, responsiveness, and adaptability.