PhD candidates in the field of supramolecular biomaterials

The Faculty of Science and the Leiden Institute of Chemistry are looking for a PhD candidates in the field of supramolecular biomaterials

The biochemical and biophysical cues of the stem cell environment that act in a concerted and spatiotemporal manner lead to the formation of the 200 cell types and organs of the human body; how this precisely occurs remains unclear, but it is necessary to guide their production for use in the biomedical area. Standard differentiation protocols in vitro mimic known stages in development by the timed addition of biochemical cues on 2D substrates, however these protocols lack the complexity of the 3D natural extracellular matrix (ECM), with its mechanical character that evolves in time. Supramolecular materials can recapitulate the structural and dynamic character of the ECM being based on non-covalent interactions, however their mechanically soft character remains challenging to mimic the properties of adult tissues. In this project, we will synthesize and study supramolecular materials whose properties can be mechanically modified in both space and time using external triggers for the culture of induced pluripotent stem cells and their differentiation to cardiomyocytes.