Biointerface Chemistry Lab (BCL)
Scientific staff: Prof. Dr. Ir. Pascal Jonkheijm and Dr. Sandra Michel-Souzy
Technical support staff: Regine van der Hee, Marcel de Bruine
Affiliated staff: Prof. Dr. Jeroen Cornelissen
Research in this area focuses on the development of functional and adaptive biointerfaces, where molecular control over organization, dynamics and composition is used to regulate biological interactions and processes. The work integrates supramolecular chemistry with biomolecular engineering, establishing a framework in which synthetic and biological building blocks are combined to create hybrid systems with increasing levels of functionality.
A central theme is the design of supramolecular biointerfaces that enable precise spatial and temporal control over ligand presentation. Reversible and multivalent interactions are used to tune ligand density, mobility and organization at surfaces, providing quantitative platforms to study receptor-mediated processes such as cell adhesion and signaling. These systems introduce dynamic control at interfaces, allowing investigation of how biological systems respond to changing microenvironments.
Complementing this approach, biomolecular nanotechnology introduces protein-based building blocks, that offer molecular precision and functional versatility. Through genetic and chemical modification, these systems can be tailored for controlled cargo encapsulation, targeted interactions and integration into materials and interfaces. This enables the incorporation of biologically derived functionality into synthetic platforms.
The integration of supramolecular systems with engineered protein architectures leads to hybrid biointerfaces in which structure, dynamics, and function can be programmed across multiple length scales. These systems are explored in the context of biomimetic materials, sensing platforms and diagnostic technologies, where control over interfacial interactions is essential.
Together, this research establishes a design paradigm in which chemical and biological approaches converge, enabling the creation of adaptive interfaces that bridge molecular design and biological function.