Institute of Active Polymers

Introducing mRNA in human macrophages with high efficiency and few side effects
Study of the Institute of Biomaterial Science published today in Scientific Reports
Predicting the degradation behavior of advanced medical devices
Thin film studies are suggested as a fast and reliable method to determine the degradation of complex biomacromolecules
New Year’s Lecture 2020 from the Graduate School for Macromolecular Bioscience
Welcome, Professor Frank Gu.
Climbing like the Clematis: GrowBot to imitate climbing plants
Scientists from the Institute develop artificial muscles for new EU project. More

Drug delivery expert Professor Kinam Park presents guest lecture
On the 14th May 2019, the Helmholtz Graduate School for Macromolecular Bioscience welcomed Prof. Park More
Fundamental research at the Institute of Active Polymers is focused on multifunctional, polymer-based materials for applications in Regenerative Medicine. The vision for tomorrow´s medicine is spectacular but challenging at the same time: to enable the regeneration of diseased or injured tissue, cells and complex organs or to at least partially restore their function. Novel biomaterials are providing a basis and constitute a key technology for induced auto-regeneration, especially in combination with bioactive molecules. Furthermore, they have a high application potential as support systems for somatic cell therapy and tissue engineering.
The research of the Institute, headed by Prof. Dr. Andreas Lendlein, is contributing to solve problems arising with the socio-economical change of our society: The progressing life expectancy as well as changing everyday physical strains are leading to an increase of degenerative, chronic inflammatory, and age-related diseases whose symptoms can often only be alleviated yet not cured. The development of regenerative therapies aims at curative treatment options enabling the restoration of impaired functions by endogenous healing- and regeneration processes or biological replacement. Innovative biomaterials open up entirely new medical possibilities as implants or drug releasing systems with properties and functions tailored specifically to the demands of each application.