Press Releases

We still don’t understand how nature spins simple sugar chains into the ultra-strong cellulose fibers that hold plants together – and we can’t yet copy this architecture ourselves. With an ERC Consolidator Grant, Yu Ogawa aims to decode this process and build a miniature lab “factory” to make cellulose from scratch and tailor it for a bio-based, circular economy. more

In the nitrite-to-ammonia reaction, carbon steps out of its role as the unsung sidekick and outperforms the supposed metal heroes. The study by Mateusz Odziomek and his team shows that metals can even turn into villains by poisoning the catalyst—unless they keep some distance and run with carbon in a well-timed relay. more

The SunThesis Group led by Dr. Christian M. Pelicano added a pinch of ammonium salt to the known photocatalyst KPHI for greener hydrogen peroxide production. This tweak reshapes the crystals, creates helpful defects, deepens visible-light absorption, and boosts performance at lower synthesis temperatures—pointing toward scalable, sunlight-driven reactors that can make hydrogen peroxide locally and on demand. more

A leading nanoscientist with a long-standing commitment to interdisciplinarity, he shares MPICI’s biomimetic approach and will work on his ERC Advanced Grant project on controlling protein interactions in water. Stellacci studies how proteins attract, repel, or assemble in aqueous environments, and applies these principles to the design of broad-spectrum antivirals and recyclable polymers. more

An internationally renowned triennial conference, Biomembrane Days 2025 gathered over 200 researchers from 19 countries to discuss recent advances in the structure, dynamics, and functions of biological and synthetic membranes. more

SusMax is the first Max Planck network for circular, sustainable materials—founded through an interdisciplinary collaboration of six Max Planck Institutes and open to new partners from across the Max Planck Society. Submissions for joint projects open on 23 October 2025 and close on 5 December 2025. more

Current diagnostics for Candida bloodstream infections rely on slow, inconsistent lab cultures. Researchers synthesized precise replicas of fungal sugars to map the immune response and read each Candida species’ unique sugar “fingerprint.” This enables a fast, noninvasive bedside test that delivers reliable results within minutes and supports timely, targeted therapy. more

Oren Moscovitz and team have engineered CAR-T cells to combine traditional antigen recognition with a new cysteine-based sensor to detects cancer cells’ altered redox state, overcoming tumor evasion. Early data suggest applicability across multiple cancer types, including hard-to-treat forms like certain breast cancers, paving the way for more precise and effective treatments. more

She received €10,000 from the Körber Foundation for her doctoral research, which introduced a computational method to produce chemicals from renewable biomass.Now at the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC), Laura is designing bio-based chemicals with tailor-made properties —advancing a circular, fossil-free chemical economy. more

 Liming Zhang (UC Santa Barbara) and Peter Seeberger (MPICI) developed a recyclable handle that guides sugar building blocks during glycan synthesis, solving the long-standing challenge of reliably controlling bond orientation. This method can accelerate the development of diagnostic tools, drugs, and vaccines. more

The start-up Humify has developed a technology that can reactivate soil as a carbon sink – a potential climate saver. more

A prestigious award goes to our scientist for advancing synthetic membrane research and revealing the physical principles of cellular organization. more

Beetle-infested wood is usually considered waste, good only for burning, while swamps are often drained to make space for construction. Until you visit two new temporary exhibitions by »Matters of Activity«, which challenge these long-held assumptions and invite visitors to see both as versatile, living resources for a more sustainable future. more

She receives €50,000 in recognition of her pioneering work on the automated synthesis of complex carbohydrates—long overlooked in research, yet holding great promise for the development of tailored bio-inspired materials and innovative therapeutic approaches. more

The Department of Sustainable and Bio-Inspired Materials (SBM) was one of 24 teams selected from over 270 applicants for the Best Research Environment Award, launched in 2024 by Die Junge Akademie and the Volkswagen Foundation. more

Thanks to a collaboration agreement with battery manufacturer Gelion and with Markus Antonietti acting as an advisor, nanomaterials developed in the Department of Colloid Chemistry are now being used to produce longer-lasting sodium-sulfur batteries. more

Prof. Peter Fratzl, Director of our Biomaterials Department, will contribute his expertise in the science and engineering of biological materials to help inform decision-making and science policy in Germany. more

With a prestigious Max Planck Fellowship (2025–2028), microbiologist Gabriele Berg from the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) is launching a research collaboration with Markus Antonietti. Together, they’re developing a solution to soil exhaustion and infertility: a custom-made soil created in the lab from plant residues, enriched with carefully selected microorganisms.
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Challenge: It's not just whether a membrane is in a "solid" or "liquid" state that matters—how tightly its molecules are packed also influences how protein-rich droplets (condensates) stick to it
Finding: More tightly packed membranes push away condensates, while loosely packed ones attract them
Impact: Understanding these interactions is key to grasping essential cellular functions and disease progression more

Nano-cages made of linalool and sulfur increase the service life and storage capacity of sodium-sulfur batteries
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