Macromolecular Engineering LaboratoryOpen OpportunitiesHydrogel 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
| Introduction 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.
- Biology, Engineering and Technology
- 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
| Create a next-gen resin that switches from solid to liquid using light! Dive into synthesizing, testing, and refining this unique material with exciting potential in the watch industry and beyond. Ideal for a chemistry or engineering student ready to explore the full journey—from lab synthesis to real-world application. Join us to make light a game-changer in material science! - Chemical Engineering, Organic Chemical Synthesis, Plastics, Polymers, Synthesis of Macromolecules
- ETH Zurich (ETHZ), Master Thesis
| 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
| Macrophages perform diverse functions during immune responses to pathogens and injury, but the molecular mechanisms by which physical properties of the tissue regulate macrophage behavior are poorly understood. Furthermore, while 3D cell culture methods are improving, 3D mechanobiology studies are often unable to reproduce 2D findings. Therefore, we aimed to design a biomaterial suitable for 3D, in situ stiffening to mimic changes to matrix during remodeling processes in wound healing and fibrosis. We hypothesis the macroporous nature of the material will allow for macrophage migration and by tuning mechanical properties of the material independently, such as extracellular matrix stiffness and cell confinement, allow us to identify new mechanotransduction pathways contributing to macrophage polarization. - Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Human Biophysics
- ETH Zurich (ETHZ), Master Thesis, Semester Project
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