Macromolecular Engineering LaboratoryOpen OpportunitiesIntroduction and Background
Skin cells dynamically respond to mechanical and biochemical stimuli, which influence critical processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Mechanobiology, the study of these responses, requires advanced in vitro systems to emulate physiological conditions. This project utilizes a device designed for controlled manipulation of hydrostatic pressure (0.1–1.5 kPa) and substrate stiffness (0.1–100 kPa). The system facilitates isolated and scalable experiments to analyze how the interplay of these mechanical parameters affects cell behavior. - Biomaterials, Biomechanical Engineering, Engineering/Technology Instrumentation, Polymers, Software Engineering
- Bachelor Thesis, ETH Zurich (ETHZ), Master Thesis
| This project centers around designing a CO2 measurement chamber to quantify the amount of CO2 sequestration by photosynthetic living materials. - Engineering and Technology
- Bachelor Thesis
| Living materials, as an emerging field that combines biology and material science, are materials composed of immobilized living organisms and a carrier matrix providing pre-determined bio-functionality. [1,2] Living materials bring about new properties that are not easily realised by conventional materials. Here, we aim to design a new type of living materials that can sequester and store atmospheric CO2 irreversibly in the form of calcium carbonate minerals. - Engineering and Technology
- Bachelor Thesis, ETH Zurich (ETHZ), Master Thesis
| Hydrogel materials are crosslinked polymer networks with reversible swelling, tunable porosity, elasticity, toughness, and flexibility. Conventional hydrogels often suffer from weak mechanical properties and display brittle and unstable behaviour limiting their scope for load-bearing applications. Such networks consist of side-chain functionalized polymers, whose covalent crosslinks occur at fixed positions on the polymer backbone (Figure 1A). Upon deformation, tensile stress is concentrated on the closest neighboring crosslinks, eventually leading to their rupture and material failure. Hence, the molecular design of high-performance hydrogels with toughness and elasticity similar to rubber is an emerging area of research in the engineering of polymeric materials with applications towards robust medical materials or soft robotics. - Macromolecular Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Supramolecular Chemistry
- Master Thesis
| Chronic wound care is hindered by the complex and variable proteomic profiles of wound exudates, which limit the efficacy of existing therapies. We aim to validate the effectiveness of our granular hydrogel platform in restoring balance to the wound microenvironment. Utilizing exudates obtained from diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients, we will optimize our microgel library to target clinically relevant cytokine profiles. - Biology, Medical and Health Sciences
- Internship, Master Thesis
| The development of biomaterials for chronic wound healing faces significant challenges in achieving shelf-stability, transportability, and compliance with clinical manufacturing standards. To address these hurdles, we aim to integrate a freeze-drying (lyophilization) step into the preparation of our granular hydrogels, facilitating storage and transport without compromising functionality. By validating the post-rehydration performance of lyophilized microgels, we aim to ensure the robustness of our product for clinical use. - Biology, Chemistry, Medical and Health Sciences
- Internship, Master Thesis
| The development of advanced drug formulations is a cornerstone of pharmaceutical innovation, directly influencing therapeutic efficacy, patient outcomes, and market success. Achieving optimal drug absorption and bioavailability remains one of the most significant challenges in formulation design, particularly for oral and parenteral delivery systems. Addressing this challenge is critical for advancing scientific understanding and also for accelerating drug discovery and reducing time-to-market for new therapies.
This Master’s thesis project aims to develop an advanced cell culture assay to model drug absorption, providing a scientifically robust and commercially valuable platform for drug screening and optimizing novel drug formulations. By bridging gaps in current drug screening methodologies, this project will contribute to innovation in drug delivery technologies and enhance competitive positioning in the growing global market for pharmaceutical solutions. - Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Macromolecular Chemistry, Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Medicine-general, Microbiology, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Master Thesis
| We aimed to design a biomaterial suitable for 3D, in situ stiffening to mimic changes to the dermis during fibrosis and wound healing. By adapting Methacrylated Hyaluoronic Acid (MeHA), a material previously used for 2D in situ studies, to create a 3D macroporous gel comprised of fibrous microgels, we hypothesize we will be able to dynamically increase matrix stiffness without increasing cell confinement, allowing us to identify new mechanotransduction pathways involved in fibrosis and wound healing, specifically myofibroblast activation and macrophage polarization. - Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Master Thesis, Semester Project
| In this project, we will use advanced manufacturing to produce drug delivery systems that can be use several clinical challenges such as micronutrients anaemia and type 2 diabetes.
Polymer formulation combined with advanced post-processing approaches will be used to scale up the production of drug delivery systems having specific release profile.
In vitro studies will be performed to characterize the efficiency of the produced drug delivery systems. - Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Clinical Sciences, Macromolecular Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Medical Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Master Thesis, Semester Project, Student Assistant / HiWi
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