Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory

Open Opportunities

Traction force microscopy in geometrically defined 3D environments ETH Zurich Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory Traction force microscopy (TFM) to measure cell- generated forces in engineered 3D single cell microenvironments. Biology, Information, Computing and Communication Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis

Production and Mechanical Properties Characterization of Granular Hydrogels ETH Zurich Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory This project involves in depth study on the mechanical behavior of granular hydrogel materials to enable the production of dynamic tissue engineering scaffolds. Chemistry, Engineering and Technology, Physics Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis, Semester Project

SingleCellECM: Dynamically controllable 3D niches to study cell-ECM interactions on a single cell level ETH Zurich Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory Cells reside within an extracellular matrix (ECM), which is composed of many proteins and biomolecules, and instruct cell function through many biophysical and biochemical signals. SingleCellECM is a novel cell encapsulation platform that open new opportunities in study of cell-ECM interactions. Biomaterials Master Thesis, Semester Project

Materials characterisation and modelling of ideal dynamic covalent hydrogels ETH Zurich Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory Dynamic covalent hydrogels are increasingly used as tuneable cell culture scaffolds, viscosity modifiers for food and industrial applications, and as injectable drug delivery systems owing to their reversible and mouldable nature. In this project, we aim to characterize and model the mechanical properties of ideal dynamic networks. Students will investigate both bulk properties and microscopic behaviour at the junctions of the materials, through dynamic mechanical analysis and different spectroscopic methods. Finally, students will explore different theoretical and computational modelling approaches to link the microscopic behaviour of the binding pairs that form the cross-links to the viscoelastic properties of ideal dynamic covalent networks. Chemistry, Engineering and Technology Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis, Semester Project

Simulation and experimental characterisation of acoustic cell alignment device ETH Zurich Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory We have developed an acoustofluidic device for alignment of cells inside a hydrogel fibre. Controlling the cell alignment spacing throughout the fibre is an important aspect of this project. This can be achieved by proper characterisation of the device by studying the acoustic modes. Biomaterials, Mechanical Engineering, Polymers Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis, Semester Project

Biomaterial models to investigate skin diseases ETH Zurich Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by itchy, eczematous skin due to a skin barrier defect and hyper-sensitivity to environmental conditions. AD affects 15–30% of children and 2–10% of adults in developed countries making it one of the most common skin Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Technology Bachelor Thesis, Master Thesis