Research area B: Adaptive soft materials

• B01

  B01 Towards intelligent light-propelled nano- and microsystems

  Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz - Institute of Applied Physics
  Jun.-Prof. Dr. Raphael Wittkowski - Institute of Theoretical Physics

  Project description

  Artificially propelled colloidal particles constitute biomimetic analogues to natural microswimmers and represent ideal building blocks or agents for responsive and adaptive soft matter. In a common theoretical and experimental project, we develop an advantageous novel class of such particles that are light-actuated based on symmetry-broken refraction. We will investigate individual particles and suspensions, where self-assembled adaptive networks and light-responsive swarms are expected, as novel types of nonlinear optical materials. Increasing the complexity by incorporating structured light, light-responsive shape-changing materials, delay, and memory, we will answer the question how swarm intelligence emerges. Thus, our project paves the way towards intelligent light-propelled nano- and microsystems.

  Matthias Rüschenbaum Propulsion of Light-Responsive Nano- and Microsystems | Denz

  Julian Jeggle Towards Intelligent Light-Propelled Nano- and Microsystems (Theory) | Wittkowski
  

• B02

  B02 Adaptive polymer morphologies through reversible block fragmentation

  Prof. Dr. Andre Gröschel - Institute of Physical Chemistry
  Prof. Dr. Bart Jan Ravoo - Organic Chemistry Institute

  Project description

  We will develop dissipative block copolymer nanostructures and explore their potential as sensors, actuators, and memory in adaptive systems and intelligent matter. We will design block copolymers able to dynamically alter their composition through energy-driven supramolecular fragmentation. Multivalency and orthogonality of the reversible host-guest interactions will allow us to tune the composition, stability, lifetime and self-assembly behavior of the block copolymers in aqueous solution. We develop out-of-equilibrium morphologies (micelles, vesicles, cubosomes) with tunable lifetimes that only exists as long as sufficient energy is provided. Intrinsic feedback will stabilize steady states by regulating the energy feed. In the long term we aim to implement these dissipative block copolymer morphologies into nanophotonic neural networks.

  Yorick Post   Adaptive Polymer Morphologies Through Reversible Block Fragmentation | Gröschel

• B03

  B03 Molecular control of adaptive interfaces and hierarchical soft matter

  Jun.-Prof. Dr. Björn Braunschweig - Institute of Physical Chemistry
  Prof. Dr. Andreas Heuer - Institute of Physical Chemistry

  Project description

  Through simulations and experiments, this project focuses on the molecular scale of adaptivity, where fluid interfaces are applied as unique platforms to achieve adaptive behaviour that has direct consequences on the properties of interface-controlled materials such as foam. We plan to develop combinations of photoswitchable surfactants and thermo-responsive polymers as responsive building blocks for remote control of interfacial properties. Mixtures of these building blocks will be tailored so that they show conditioned responses, where previous stimuli cause a redistribution of molecules that enables direct feedback to a new stimulus as the system response depends on the sequence of previous triggers.

  H. Gökberg Özçelik Simulation of Photoswitchable Molecules at Interface | Heuer

  Michael Hardt Molecular Control of Adaptive Interfaces with Photo- switchable Surfactants and Polymers | Braunschweig

  
  

• B04

  B04 Multistimuli sensing with memory and feedback function using photoswitchable proteins and coordination chemistry

  Prof. Dr. Seraphine Wegner - Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry

  Project description

  We will develop a molecular toolbox of multistimuli responsive crosslinks in hydrogels that can sense and integrate different stimuli as inputs (different colours of visible light, redox, pH and metal ions) and respond to them following a chemically coded logic. We will explore how such hydrogels can develop memory for previous inputs and use intrinsically generated signals to generate feedback. The integration of different molecular building blocks that react to multiple stimuli and their interplay will provide the basis of molecular level information processing within hydrogels.

  Johanna Bergmann - Development of Photoswitchable Properties of Synthetic Cells

  Alice Casadidio Multistimuli Sensing with Memory and Feedback Function using Photoswitchable Proteins and Coordination Chemistry

  Tarek Elsayed - Multistimuli Sensing with Memory and Feedback Function using Photoswitchable Proteins and Coordination Chemistry

  Saskia Frank Multistimuli Sensing with Memory and Feedback Function using Photoswitchable Proteins and Coordination Chemistry

  Yanjun Zheng Multistimuli Sensing with Memory and Feedback Function using Photoswitchable Proteins and Coordination Chemistry

  Xiaoran Zheng - Bi-Direction Communication between Materials and Living Organisms

• B05

  B05 Adaptive cell-matrix nanosystems

  Prof. Dr. Carsten Grashoff - Institute of Molecular Cell Biology
  Prof. Dr. Cristian A. Strassert - Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry
  Dr. Britta Trappmann - MPI Molecular Biomedicine

  Project description

  This interdisciplinary project aims at the generation of a biosynthetic material, in which mammalian cells are utilized as information-processing elements that sense, integrate, and feedback on physiological stimuli. Using the expertise of three laboratories specialized in cell biology/biophysics, biomaterial science, and coordination chemistry, 3D hydrogels harbouring mesenchymal stem cells and novel metal-organic based tension sensors, will be generated. The resulting hybrid nanosystem should sense and adapt to various stimuli including mechanical forces, biochemical signals, and light.

  Theresa Mösser Investigating Molecular Forces in Focal Adhesions, Hemidesmosomes and Adaptive Hydrogels | Grashoff

  Tobias Rex   Design and Synthesis of Functional Ligands for Photoactive Coordination Complexes | Strassert

  Inka Schröter Role of Cellular Mechanotransduction in Cell Adhesion and Migration | Trappmann