Ramos, L.; Schönhoff, M.; Luan, Y.; Möhwald, H.; Brezesinski, G.: Electrostatic interactions between polyelectrolyte and amphiphiles in two- and three-dimensional systems. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 303 (1-2), pp. 79 - 88 (2007)
Rusu, M.; Wohlrab, S.; Kuckling, D.; Möhwald, H.; Schönhoff, M.: Coil-to-globule transition of PNIPAM graft copolymers with charged side chains: a ¹H and ²H NMR and spin relaxation study. Macromolecules 39 (21), pp. 7358 - 7363 (2006)
Adalsteinsson , T.; Dong, W. F.; Schönhoff, M.: Diffusion of 77000 g/mol dextran in submicron polyelectrolyte capsule dispersions measured using PFG-NMR. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 108 (52), pp. 20056 - 20063 (2004)
Carriere, D.; Krastev, R.; Schönhoff, M.: Oscillations in solvent fraction of polyelectrolyte multilayers driven by the charge of the terminating layer. Langmuir 20 (26), pp. 11465 - 11472 (2004)
Wang, L.; Schönhoff, M.; Möhwald, H.: Swelling of polyelectrolyte multilayer-supported lipid layers. 1. Layer stability and lateral diffusion. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 108 (15), pp. 4767 - 4774 (2004)
Qiao , Y.; Schönhoff, M.; Findenegg, G. H.: 2H NMR investigation of the structure and dynamics of the nonionic surfactant C12E5 confined in controlled pore glass. Langmuir 19 (15), pp. 6160 - 6167 (2003)
Schönhoff, M.; Larsson, A.; Welzel, P. B.; Kuckling, D.: Thermoreversible polymers adsorbed to colloidal silica: a 1H NMR and DSC study of the phase transition in confined geometry. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 106 (32), pp. 7800 - 7808 (2002)
Schönhoff, M.; Schwarz, B.; Larsson, A.; Kuckling, D.: Dynamics in complex polymer layers investigated by NMR techniques. Progress in Colloid and Polymer Science 121, pp. 80 - 87 (2002)
Schwarz, B.; Schönhoff, M.: A 1H NMR relaxation study of hydration water in polyelectrolyte mono and multilayers adsorbed to colloidal particles. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 198-200, pp. 293 - 304 (2002)
Vo, C. D.; Kuckling, D.; Adler, H. J. P.; Schönhoff, M.: Preparation of thermosensitive nanogels by photo-cross-linking. Colloid and Polymer Science 280 (5), pp. 400 - 409 (2002)
Wang, L. Y.; Schönhoff, M.; Möhwald, H.: Lipids coupled to polyelectrolyte multilayers: Ultraslow diffusion and the dynamics of electrostatic interactions. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 106 (35), pp. 9135 - 9142 (2002)
Casoli, A.; Schönhoff, M.: Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy as a tool to investigate single molecule probe dynamics in thin polymer films. Biological Chemistry 382, pp. 363 - 369 (2001)
Larsson, A.; Kuckling, D.; Schönhoff, M.: 1H NMR of thermoreversible polymers in solution and at interfaces: the influence of charged groups on the phase transition. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 190 (1-2), pp. 185 - 192 (2001)
Schönhoff, M.; Söderman, O.; Li, Z. X.; Thomas, R. K.: Internal dynamics and order parameters in surfactant aggregates: A 2 H NMR study of adsorption layers and bulk phases. Langmuir 16, pp. 3971 - 3976 (2000)
Schönhoff, M.; Söderman, O.; Li, Z. X.; Thomas, R. K.: A 2H-NMR relaxation study of surfactant order in surface aggregates and bulk structures. Bulletin of Magnetic Resonance 20, pp. 25 - 29 (1999)
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.
We left the lab coat hanging for a day—but brought our lab equipment with us to meet more than 8,200 visitors. At our 10 stations, we showcased how we learn from nature to develop sustainable solutions—from dye- and pigment-free colors to bio-inspired materials for construction, medicine, and design.
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
Supported by the EU’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and the UK Guarantee Scheme, the 'Condensates at Membrane Scaffolds – Integrated Systems as Synthetic Cell Compartments’ doctoral network seeks 17 PhD candidates. This international and interdisciplinary program aims to train future biomedical and biotechnology researchers to explore cellular…
Biomolecular condensates may play a crucial but overlooked role in remodeling membrane structures within cells. Rumiana Dimova and her team demonstrated that these droplets can shape parts of the endoplasmic reticulum into nanotubes and double-membrane discs without the need for specific curvature-molding proteins.
Imagine switching on a light and being able to understand and control the inner dynamics of a cell. This is what the Dimova group has achieved: by shining lights of different colors on replicates of cells, they altered the interactions between cellular elements. Controlling these complex interactions enables us to deliver specific drugs directly into the cells.
Little is known yet about the interaction between these biomolecular condensate droplets and the membrane-bound organelles. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam developed synthetic membraneless organelles and visualized what happens when they meet a membrane.
Prof Silvia Vignolini, Ph.D. is establishing the new Department "Sustainable and Bio-inspired Materials". She is working at the interface of physics, chemistry, biology and materials science and perfectly complements the institute's profile of research on chemistry, materials and sustainability.