Biomolecular Systems

The “FatLoop” project will use fatty acids from discarded oils to repurpose plastic waste into functional materials. Led by Dr. Manuel Häußler, FatLoop aims to lay the groundwork for a future beyond conventional plastics, with the long-term goal of developing fully recyclable and sustainable materials that match the versatility of plastics without their environmental footprint. The project has received €2 million in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
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With the support of an ERC Starting Grant, Dr. John J. Molloy will use light to design 3D organoboron molecules with tailored properties. His project, LUMIBOR, exploits the hybridization of boron—an element that can switch between planar and tetrahedral atomic configurations—to fine-tune its reactions via light activation. The envisioned molecules will provide versatile building blocks with enhanced reactivity for both fundamental research and industrial applications. more

The Glyconeer 3.1 represents the latest breakthrough in the automated assembly of complex sugar chains. The improved design and technology patented by Peter Seeberger’s research group make their synthesis fast, energy-efficient, and user-friendly. A better understanding of life’s most common molecules promises important advances in fields ranging from biotechnology to medicine and materials science.  
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Dr. Felix Löffler takes chemical synthesis out of flasks and beakers and replaces liquid solvents with solid polymer inks in a 3D multimaterial nanoprinter . A laser beam precisely transfers nanometric amounts of chemical compounds onto an acceptor surface, where thousands of different reactions can take place in parallel. The invention has applications in chemical engineering, biotechnology, and materials science. more

Fucoidan, a sugar released by algae, can trap carbon dioxide (CO2) for centuries but remains poorly understood due to its complex and diverse molecular structure. Dr. Conor Crawford recreated fucoidan in the lab to study which types are most effective at storing carbon. Better knowledge of its properties could contribute to technologies against climate change.
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