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Molecular Gates and Reaction Networks

Welcome to the homepage of the Molecular Gates and Reaction Networks Group!
My team, comprising mainly chemists, is a part of the Department of Synthesis of Macromolecules at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany. Our research is inspired by biomolecular processes and reaction networks that occur in the complex environment in living systems and biomacromolecular architectures which give rise to distinct functions in Nature. We are particularly interested in integrating molecular gates and multi-input logic elements into bioactive molecules to form responsive reaction networks in cancer cells, and create self-regulating medicines that operate within the complex biochemical landscape of cancer.

Research Highlights and News

_{Bioactive Artificial Cells as Autonomous Metabolic Actuators Enable Bidirectional Communication with Tumor Cells}

In this collaborative work within the Max Planck Bristol Center for Minimal Biology, we equipped proteinosome-based ACs with a minimal metabolism to mediate bidirectional communication with glycolytic tumor cells.

_{Autonomous Activation of a Gated Chemiluminescent Photosensitizer Enables Targeted Photodynamic Therapy in Tumor Cells}

We devised a self-activating, chemiluminescent photosensitizer (PS) that enables tumor microenvironment-controlled PDT applications.

_{Chemoselective dual functionalization of proteins via 1,6-addition of thiols to trifunctional N-alkylpyridinium}

We developed a new class of dual-functionalization chemistry based on 1,6-addition of thiols to trifunctional N-alkylpyridinium reagents, enabling compatible cross-orthogonal functionalities to be installed on a single cysteine residue under mild aqueous conditions, preserving native protein structure.

_{Glycogen-inspired trimannosylated serum albumin nanocarriers for targeted delivery of toll-like receptor 7/8 agonists to immune cells and liver}

A trimannose-HSA nanocarrier that targets DC-SIGN/MMR, demonstrate fast, efficient, and selective liver targeting in vivo.

"An experiment is a question which science poses to Nature, and a measurement is the recording of Nature’s answer."
- Max Planck, 1858-1947

_{Macrocyclic Dual-Locked “Turn-On” Drug for Selective and Traceless Release in Cancer Cells}

A double lock mechanism is used to embed a small-molecule drug in a cyclic structure, thus controlling bioactivity in cancer cells.

_{Contemporary Approaches for Site-Selective Dual Functionalization of Proteins}

Dual functionalization of proteins allows the incorporation of two different types of functionalities at distinct location(s), which greatly expands the features of native proteins. This review gives an overview of the advancements and a future perspective of this important research area to design precise multifunctional protein therapeutics.