Synthetic tissue engineering with smart, cytomimetic protocells.

Synthetic protocells are rudimentary origin-of-life versions of natural cell counterparts. Protocells are widely engineered to advance efforts and useful accepted outcomes in synthetic biology, soft matter chemistry and bioinspired materials chemistry. Protocells in collective symbiosis generate synthetic proto-tissues that display unprecedented autonomy and yield advanced materials with desirable life-like features for smart multi-drug delivery, micro bioreactors, renewable fuel production, environmental clean-up, and medicine.

High Quality Bioreplication of Intricate Nanostructures from a Fragile Gecko Skin Surface with Bactericidal Properties.

The external epithelial surfaces of plants and animals are frequently carpeted with small micro- and nanostructures, which broadens their adaptive capabilities in challenging physical habitats. Hairs and other shaped protuberances manage with excessive water, light contaminants, predators or parasites in innovative ways. We are interested in transferring these intricate architectures onto biomedical devices and daily-life surfaces.

The role of micro/nano channel structuring in repelling water on cuticle arrays of the lacewing.

Non-wetting surfaces help in the survival of terrestrial and semi-aquatic insects. Some insects encounter wetting by rain, through contact with water collected on foliage, or in ponds, rivers or streams. There is an evolutionary pay-off for such insects to adopt hydrophobic structuring especially on regions that contact water, such as legs or large surface areas such as wings.