Biomolecular materials
Research group of Biomolecular materials, Prof. Markus Linder
The biomolecular materials group seeks to understand and utilize biological design strategies for materials.In many cases nature serves as an inspiration for how high performance materials can be designed. Examples of such materials are the mineralized structures in seashells, silk fiber, and the adhesives of many marine organisms.
We try to understand and copy how such materials function starting from a molecular level, and show how the structure of molecules and their interactions can lead to different materials properties. Proteins are especially interesting for this because the techniques of modern biology allow a very detailed molecular engineering of their structures.
We also study cellulose as a molecular material and how we make use of molecular interactions and its special mechanical properties to make completely new uses for it.New techniques such as synthetic biology will also open new possibilities for making and producing biological materials in the future.
The use and technology of materials shapes our society to a very large extent. Results from our research may one day lead our society onwards from the plastic -age to the bio-materials-age and a more sustainable way of living.
