Biomaterials engineering
How can we design materials to direct cell behavior and functionality. Cell behavior is highly dependent on their surrounding microenvironment. For example, stem cells grown on a soft substrate, mimetic of brain tissue, differentiate towards nerve cells, while those cultured on a stiff substrate, mimetic of bone, are driven towards osteogenic lineages. This is one example of how controlling the microenvironment, namely mechanical cues such as stiffness, can direct cellular behavior such as differentiation, proliferation, migration, or even something as fundamental as viability. Taking this a step further, a deeper understanding of cell behavior will allow us to harness cells for defined functionalities, enabling the development of biomaterials for specific applications, or even more advanced systems that go beyond the capabilities of cells or materials alone.
Designing biomaterials for mammalian cells
Designing biomaterials for bacteria
Cyanobacteria are powerful photosynthetic organisms capable of oxygenic photosynthesis and natural CO₂ sequestration. By leveraging their metabolic activity, we can achieve efficient carbon capture through both biomass accumulation and carbonate precipitation. To support this functionality, the biomaterial design must enable sufficient light penetration. Therefore, we develop materials that encapsulate and promote bacterial growth through the rational design of macroscopic structures. We harness the shear-thinning and self-healing properties of hydrogel materials, combined with 3D printing technologies, to fabricate structured living materials that actively support and sustain photosynthetic activity. Additionally, chemical functionalization enhances the long-term stability of the materials, enabling continuous CO₂ sequestration over extended periods.
People involved: Yifan Cui
Selected publications and websites:
[1] Dranseike & Cui et al., Nat Comm, 2025, 16, 3832
[2] ETH ALIVE CLiMa