Current research projects
"8 arm-Poly(ethylene glycol) Based hydrogels via Michael addition or click chemistry"
- We aim to create innovative multi-arm PEG hydrogels with different functional groups to explore new polymerization chemistries. These gels open, as well, a door to the further functionalization of pre-polymerized hydrogels (post-gelation reactivity).
"Gold nanoparticle-hydrogel nanocomposites"
- Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have very interesting properties such as their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and the capacity to interact with many biological molecules. The integration of both materials, AuNPs and hydrogels, present promising applications in the field of biomaterial science, such as biosensors.
"Development of surface micro- and nano-patterning techniques with gold nanoparticles and hydrogels: Patterning Nanocomposite Materials by the FIMIC Method"
- Unique nanocomposite biomaterials are formed by patterning Au NPs on PEG-based hydrogels. Cells selectively adhere to and migrate on those patterns. Implications for cell viability and proliferation are being quantified.
"Cell adhesion and Migration: Control of cell migration on physically and mechanically patterned biomaterials"
- Cellular migration is a key phenomenon in many biological processes. We want to understand how external factors, such as topographic and elastic differences, affect cell displacement and to direct and control this by modifying the pattering of the external stimuli at the cell-substrate interface.
"Integration of 3D patterned hydrogels for intraocular, functional-enhanced lenses (INDRIEL)"
- The project aims in the development and investigation of a novel material for intraocular lens implants, enabling optical and mechanical structuring of the volume as well as of the surface, respectively. Based on such a material composition, adapted for photoinduced crosslinking by means of volume holographic techniques, a new type of intraocular lenses (IOLs) would be implementable, operating by means of 'function by structure'.