Lukas Hein

My PhD research aims to design adaptive biomaterials that bridge living systems with electronic functionality. I focus on developing soft, flexible, and conductive hydrogels that are naturally adhesive to biological tissues while retaining stretchability and biocompatibility. By organizing molecules into higher-order assemblies and tuning their interfaces, these materials acquire emergent properties that go beyond simple conductivity: they can conform to dynamic biological environments, mediate communication, and maintain stability under mechanical stress.

Using light-assisted 3D bioprinting, I explore how such materials can be patterned with spatial precision, enabling architectures that integrate mechanical softness, electrical performance, and adaptive interfaces. This approach transforms conductive hydrogels into programmable systems that not only match but also interact with biological tissues.

In this way, my work exemplifies to construct adaptive molecular systems that evolve from molecular design into functional, life-like matter. Conductive, bioprintable hydrogels are one step toward creating dynamic interfaces where biology and electronics merge, opening possibilities for regenerative medicine and next-generation biointerfaces.