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. Aleeza Farrukh
Research Scientist
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-315
Dr. Jennifer Yvonne Kasper
Head of Bioengineering
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-345
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)681-9300-245
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-282
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-414
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-360
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-214
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-245
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-245
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-384
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-345
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-349
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-401
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-316
Phone: +49 (0)681-9300-155
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)681-9300-282
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

2020
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 , 2020, 59 (14), 5611-5615.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anie.201913574

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Label-Free Imaging of Cholesterol Assemblies Reveals Hidden Nanomechanics of Breast Cancer Cells

Dumitru, Andra C. | Mohammed, Danahe | Maja, Mauriane | Yang, Jinsung | Verstraeten, Sandrine | del Campo, Aranzazu | Mingeot-Leclercq, Marie-Paule | Tyteca, Donatienne | Alsteens, David

Advanced Science , 2020, 7 (22), 2002643.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/advs.202002643

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Printed Degradable Optical Waveguides for Guiding Light into Tissue

Feng, Jun | Zheng, Yijun | Bhusari, Shardul | Villiou, Maria | Pearson, Samuel | del Campo, Aránzazu

Advanced Functional Materials , 2020, 30 (45), 2004327.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adfm.202004327

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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 , 2020, 8 506-516.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C9BM01271K

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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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3D Printing of a Reactive Hydrogel Bio-Ink Using a Static Mixing Tool

Puertas-Bartolomé, María | Włodarczyk-Biegun, Małgorzata K. | del Campo, Aránzazu | Vázquez-Lasa, Blanca | San Román, Julio

Polymers , 2020, 12 (9), 1986_1-17.
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/9/1986

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Supramolecular block copolymers as novel UV and NIR responsive nanocarriers based on a photolabile coumarin unit

Roche, Alejandro | Terriac, Emmanuel | Tejedor, Rosa M. | Oriol, Luis | del Campo, Aránzazu | Piñol, Milagros

European Polymer Journal , 2020, 126 109561.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014305719320750

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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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Photodegradable Hydrogels for Cell Encapsulation and Tissue Adhesion

Villiou, Maria | Paez, Julieta I. | del Campo, Aránzazu

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces , 2020, 12 (34), 37862-37872.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c08568

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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

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