This lecture presents an overview on major research work of the Fellow’s group in the areas
of polymer nanoparticles for drug delivery, control of protein adsorption on materials
surfaces and protein nanofibers. In addition, the new excellence graduate school (Research
Training Group) RTG 2723: Materials‐Microbe‐Microenvironments: Antimicrobial
biomaterials with tailored structures and properties (M‐M‐M) funded by the German Science
Foundation will be introduced.
Polymer nanoparticles (PNP) became recently exceedingly popular through novel vaccination
technologies but have also major potential for fighting inflammation and cancer. These drug
release properties of the PNP depend on their structure. Yet, the literature reports little
about the structure and the properties of most PNPs, except the chemical composition. The
PNP’s crystallinity, thermal and mechanical properties are frequently ignored, even though
they may play a key role in the drug delivery properties of the PNPs.
Protein adsorption on biomaterials is the first process after implantation and determines
much of the fate of the biomaterial, such as cell adhesion, blood coagulation or infection at
the implant site. Despite decades of research, only rules of thumb exist to predict protein
adsorption behavior. We present nanotechnological approaches to control protein
adsorption using nanostructured semicrystalline polymers and crystal facets of TiO2. Selfassembled
protein nanofibers consisting of one or more proteins, potentially allow to tailor
the properties of biomaterials interfaces and to create bone mimetic structures.
Finally, the new DFG‐RTG 2723: Materials‐Microbe‐Microenvironments: Antimicrobial
biomaterials with tailored structures and properties (M‐M‐M) in Jena will be introduced. The
aim of the RTG is to provide excellent training for approximately 40 international doctoral
researchers in antimicrobial biomaterials in interdisciplinary tandem projects, connecting
materials science and medical science. The RTG pursues a new strategy by developing
antibiotic free biomaterials, where the antimicrobial action is based mainly on physical
principles. The new RTG offers ample opportunity for fruitful cooperation and exchange with
leading research institutions in Israel.
