Dynamic Biomaterials

We study and orchestrate how synthetic materials interact with living cells. We engineer cell-instructive environments and material-based solutions for zero-waste therapeutic solutions.

Our group develops hydrogel materials with programmed and tunable properties designed to encapsulate and instruct living cells. We study how living cells and inert matter interact and how these interactions can be exploited to direct cellular functions and ultimately result in therapeutic advantages. We cooperate with synthetic biologists, biophysicists, drug developers and clinicians to explore the application potential of our developments, with a focus on new materials for ophthalmic drug delivery. We contribute to INM’s competence fields opto-interactive and bio-intelligent materials. Our research addresses biomedical needs.

Prof. Dr. Aránzazu del Campo
Prof. Dr. Aránzazu del Campo
Head of Dynamic Biomaterials
Telefon: +49 (0)681-9300-510

Contact

Dr. Jennifer Yvonne Kasper
Head of Bioengineering
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-316
Dr. Aleeza Farrukh
Research Scientist
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-315
Team Members
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-181
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-363
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-157
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-315
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-107/251
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-245
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-414
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-360
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-245
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-316
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-349
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-316
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-247
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-315
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-214
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-363
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-384
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-113
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-152
Research

Hydrogels with latent properties

By integrating phototriggers and light-responsive molecular motors in polymeric networks, we develop 4D hydrogels with optoregulated (bio)chemical activity, crosslinking, degradation, or mechanoactuation. These are used for biophysical studies of cell response to changes in the biochemical and mechanical signals of the extracellular environment.

Model Cellular Microenvironments

We build synthetic models of cell-matrix and cell-cell interfaces with encoded biochemical, mechanical and dimensional signals. To accelerate discovery, we develop material microarrays for high-throughput biophysical experimentation and apply them to study multifactorial cell responses.

Living Therapeutic Devices

We develop bioinks and apply biofabrication technologies for functional and safe encapsulation of cells in medical devices. We focus on self-replenishable living therapeutic materials which integrate drug biofactories and have unlimited therapeutic release. We aim for innovation in ocular therapeutics with living, self-replenishable drug-eluting contact lenses.

Partner

Selected Publications

Printed Soft Optical Waveguides of PLA Copolymers for Guiding Light into Tissue

Feng, Jun | Jiang, Qiyang | Rogin, Peter | Oliveira, Peter William de | del Campo, Aránzazu

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces , 2020, 12 (18), 20287-20294.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c03903

Printability study of metal ion crosslinked PEG-catechol based inks

Włodarczyk-Biegun, Małgorzata K. | Paez, Julieta I. | Villiou, Maria | Feng, Jun | del Campo, Aranzazu

Biofabrication , 2020, 12 (3), 035009.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1758-5090/ab673a

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Thiol-Methylsulfone-Based Hydrogels for 3D Cell Encapsulation

Paez, Julieta I. | Farrukh, Aleeza | Valbuena Mendoza, Rocío | Włodarczyk-Biegun, Małgorzata K. | del Campo, Aránzazu

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces , 2020, 12 (7), 8062-8072.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c00709

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Effects of microcarriers addition and mixing on WJ-MSC culture in bioreactors

Sion, C. | Loubière, C. | Wlodarczyk-Biegun, M. | Davoudi, N. | Müller-Renno, C. | Guedon, E. | Chevalot, I. | Olmos, E.

Biochemical Engineering Journal , 2020, 157 107521.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369703X2030036X

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Bioinspired footed soft robot with unidirectional all-terrain mobility

Wang, Xin | Yang, Baisong | Tan, Di | Li, Qian | Song, Bin | Wu, Zhong-Shuai | del Campo, Aránzazu | Kappl, Michael | Wang, Zuankai | Gorb, Stanislav N. | Liu, Sheng | Xue, Longjian

Materials Today , 2020, 35 42-49.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369702120300018

Macroscopic self-evolution of dynamic hydrogels to create hollow interiors

Han, Lu | Zheng, Yijun | Luo, Hao | Feng, Jun | Engstler, Roxanne | Xue, Lulu | Jing, Guangyin | Deng, Xu | del Campo, Aránzazu | Cui, Jiaxi

Angewandte Chemie International Edition , 2019, 59 (14), 5611-5615.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anie.201913574

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Glycerylphytate as ionic crosslinker for 3D printing of multi-layered scaffolds with improved shape fidelity and biological features

Mora-Boza, Ana | Włodarczyk-Biegun, Małgorzata K. | del Campo, Aránzazu | Vazquez-Lasa, Blanca | San Roman, Julio

Biomaterials Science , 2019, 8 506-516.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C9BM01271K

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Membrane Tension Orchestrates Rear Retraction in Matrix-Directed Cell Migration

Hetmanski, Joseph H. R. | de Belly, Henry | Busnelli, Ignacio | Waring, Thomas | Nair, Roshna V. | Sokleva, Vanesa | Dobre, Oana | Cameron, Angus | Gauthier, Nils | Lamaze, Christophe | Del Campo, Aránzazu | Starborg, Tobias | Zech, Tobias | Goetz, Jacky G. | Paluch, Ewa K. | Schwartz, Jean-Marc | Caswell, Patrick T.

Developmental Cell , 2019, 51 (4), 460-475.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S153458071930735X

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Nanoscale Characteristics and Antimicrobial Properties of (SI-ATRP)-Seeded Polymer Brush Surfaces

Oh, Yoo Jin | Khan, Essak S. | del Campo, Aránzazu | Hinterdorfer, Peter | Li, Bin

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces , 2019, 11 (32), 29312-29319.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b09885

4D hydrogel for dynamic cell culture with orthogonal, wavelength-dependent mechanical and biochemical cues

Zheng, Yijun | Liong Han, Mitchell Kim | Jiang, Qiyang | Li, Bin | Feng, Jun | del Campo, Aránzazu

Materials Horizons , 2019, 7 111-120.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C9MH00665F

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