Biohybrid materials
Prof. Mauri Kostiainen Group
(Research Group of Biohybrid Materials)
RESEARCH MEMBERS PUBLICATIONS OPEN POSITIONS TEACHING
The possibility to direct nanoscale structural order in length scales between 1 and 100 nm is an important prerequisite for the preparation of next-generation functional materials. Periodic nanostructures, for example nanoparticle superlattices, are particularly interesting in this respect because they can exhibit collective properties, which emerge from the geometrical structuring of discrete building blocks rather than their band structure or composition directly. Biohybrid systems, which seek to integrate synthetic materials and biomolecules into same well-defined and functional nanostructures is a new and rapidly developing area of research.
Biohybrid Materials Group does research at the interface of chemistry, physics and biochemistry. Our group is young (established in 2013) and dynamic. Our research focuses on biohybrid materials, which allow the best features of synthetic and biological material types to be combined – the versatility of synthetic matter and highly controlled assembly properties of biomolecules. We use common nanoparticle, organic and polymer synthesis methods to prepare synthetic building blocks, which are self-assembled mainly in biocompatible aqueous environment with biomacromolecules (DNA, proteins, viruses, cellulose). Our group utilizes high-end characterisation techniques: atomic force microscopy, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering to study the systems. For example, we aim to design, synthesize and apply new polymer and nanoparticle materials whose interactions and crystalline packing with biomacromolecules can be controlled with external stimuli. Ultimately, such systems may be utilized in intelligent materials whose function or dynamic response is tuneable and adaptable.
The group is well-connected nationally as well as internationally. We collaborate extensively with international research groups and have memberships in prestigious national networks e.g. the:
- Finnish Academy Centre of Excellence on Molecular Engineering of Biosynthetic Hybrid Materials (HYBER, 2014-2019) Video about HYBER!
- Biocentrum Helsinki (2014-2016)
NEWS!
25.8.2017
Ville defends his PhD thesis.
22.6.2017
A major grant to BiHy from the Academy of Finland.
21.3.2017
Joona awarded with the Aalto CHEM PhD thesis prize!
16.03.2017
Funding received from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation.
25.1.2017
Summer jobs are available!
4.1.2017
Veikko receives a collaborative grant from Erkko Foundation. Big congratulations!
11.11.2016
New paper out on the delivery of enzyme loaded DNA origami.
27.10.2016
Congratulations Antti for the Aalto CHEM funded doctorral student position!
01.09.2016
Mauri promoted to Associate Professor (with tenure).
10.08.2016
Automated Design of DNA Origami: News and Views article out in Nature Biotechnology!
01.08.2016
Several new publications out, please see the list.
01.07.2016
Antti Korpi joins the group as a PhD student, welcome!
28.06.2016
Joona becomes the first PhD gradute from BiHy group (link to Thesis).
12.-13.05.2016
HYBER symposium with excellent speakers (Ron Weiss, MIT; Thomas Hermans, Univ. Strasbourg; Ali Miserez, NTU; Andreas Herrmann, Univ. Groningen; and many others).
05.05.2016
PhD positions open! Check out the open positions.
13.04.2016
Check out the cool video on our center of excellence HYBER!
01.01.2016
Happy New Year 2016!
21.12.2015
Xmas publication by Joona out in ACS Nano.
08.12.2015
Veikko receives the esteemed title of Docent!
03.11.2015
Salla and Joona receive Aalto CHEM funded doctoral student positions. Congrats!
24.10.2015
New publications out:
1) ACS Nano, Congrats Ville!
2) Scientific Reports, Birthday paper from Veikko.
3) Green Chemistry, First results out form the Lignin project.
24.09.2015
Read our latest DNA origami review hot off the press!
07.09.2015
Polymer Synthesis course organized by BiHy starts.
01.06.2015
Mauri receives the Young Investigator Award from the Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion
12.-13.05.2015
HYBER seminar in Hanasaari with renowned speakers (e.g. Silvia Vignolini, Cambridge;
Matthew Harrington, Bio Max-Plank; Neel Joshi, Harvard; Oren Scherman, Cambridge;
Thomas Scheibel, Bayreuth; Rafal Klajn, Weizmann Institute of Science and many others)
04.05.2015
New students onboard: Erika (diploma thesis) and Laura (summer internship).
29.04.2015
Big congrats to Veikko who receives the Finnish Academy postdoc funding for 3 years!
16.03.2015
Faizan joins BiHy group as a diploma thesis worker.
10.02.2015
Summer internship and Diploma Thesis positions open (see open positions).
02.02.2015
Salla Välimäki joins the group as a PhD student, welcome!
12.01.2015
New Year kick-off with publications in Chem. Comm. and Biomacromolecules. Good job Veikko and Joona!
18.11.2014
New postdoc (Kalle Lintinen) in the group, welcome!
Mauri receives the World Cultural Council Special Recognition 2014.
12.11.2014
Jenny and Joona receive a Aalto CHEM funded doctoral student positions. Congrats!
01.10.2014
Postdoc position on biomaterials available in our group.
22.9.2014
Henna’s article out in Nanoscale!
25.8.2014
Mauri gives and invited talk at Supramolecular System Symposium, Changchun, China.
29.7.2014
Ville’s article out in Nature Communications !!!
06.05.2014
Light fuelled transport - Jenni's article out in JACS (just accepted).
24.03.2014
We thank Sigrid Juselius Foundation for supporting our reserach!
17.03.2014
Virus encapsulated DNA origami - Joona's article out in Nano Letters (just accepted).
03.03.2014
Welcome Ari Ora - a new postdoc in the group.
26.02.2014
Sari's Diploma Thesis articles out in Chem. Eur J. and Electrophoresis.
03.02.2014
New PhD student (Jenny Kiviaho) on board.
24.1.2014
Launch of HYBER (Finnish Academy Centre of Excellence on Molecular Engineering of Biosynthetic Hybrid Materials (2014-2019)).