Research topics of our department "Bioactive and Responsive Polymers„ are the development of multifunctional and bioactive carrier systems as well as multicompartment systems based on hydrogels, polymeric vesicles, dendritic structures and functional polyesters.

Bioactive supramolecular structures with defined size dimensions ranging from several nanometers up to sub-micrometer are established. Furthermore, complexation and interaction processes of responsive polymers, using them as carrier systems or polymeric vesicles, are also investigated. Polymer vesicles are studied as therapeutic systems and enzymatic nanoreactores. On the other hand, these polymeric vesicles can be transferred into biomimetic organelles and cells (= multicompartment systems) with orthogonal-responsive membranes.

Moreover, hydrogels are to be established further in the fields of biosensoric devices, diagnostic and actuators. We are especially interested in using mono- and bi-responsive hydrogels within microfluidic devices, especially within microsystems technology.

We are also very much interested in synthesising functional polyesters from radical ring-opening polymerisation. This is to enhance the scope of this polymerisation to unravel its full potential in the field of polymer chemistry.