Research areas
Biomedical Molecular Machinery
Artificial molecular machines have huge potential in modern biomedicine, for example as adaptive biosensors and smart drug delivery vehicles. We develop molecular machines based on mechanically interlocked molecules such as rotaxanes and catenanes to meet challenges in modern therapeutics and diagnostics.
Smart and adaptive biomaterials
Equipping traditional biomaterials with stimuli-responsive features can open pathways to a new brand of regenerative medicine with unprecedented precision and efficiency. We are developing dynamic and printable glycopolymers that change functionality in response to for example light, pH changes and chemical stimuli.
Molecular Motion in Water
Our group has a fundamental interest in controlling the motion of mechanically interlocked molecules in aqueous and biogenic environments. Knowing how to control the relative positioning of components in for example rotaxane shuttles will be vital to harness the unique properties of molecular machinery for improving human health .
Properties of the mechanical bond
We are using the toolbox of physical organic chemistry to understand mechanical bonds and the properties of mechanically interlocked molecules. Understanding how molecular entanglements alter chemical properties can hopefully be useful in creating novel sensors, catalysts and adaptive functional materials.