Welcome to the department of Prof. Tanja Weil

Synthesis of Macromolecules

The department for the Synthesis of Macromolecules develops innovative synthesis concepts for the production of functional macromolecules and hybrid materials through complex molecular design strategies to solve future challenges in biomedicine and materials science.

Journal Cover

Media & Events

SupraChem 2022

We are proud to co-organize this biannual series that assembles all supramolecular chemists and scientists from related fields. more

Fighting Cancer, Trojan Horse-style

Featured in LinkedIn News (image from original article) more

Helping damaged nerves to regrow

Article in Max Planck Society Newsroom

(Image: How damaged nerves can regrow. © mattweis based on templates from the MPI for Polymer Research)

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Publication Highlight

Macrocyclic Dual-Locked “Turn-On” Drug for Selective and Traceless Release in Cancer Cells

We report drug cyclization based on dynamic covalent linkages to devise a dual lock for the small-molecule anticancer drug, that can only be activated in the unique intracellular chemical environment in cancer cells
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 Data-mining unveils structure–property–activity correlation of viral infectivity enhancing self-assembling peptides

Through a data-mining approach, structure-property-activity correlations were found in self-assembling peptide sequences for enhancing viral transduction efficiency, enabling a pathway towards efficient gene therapy.
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Dual Stimuli-Responsive Dynamic Covalent Peptide Tags: Toward Sequence-Controlled Release in Tumor-like Microenvironments

We designed dual responsive dynamic covalent peptide tags combining a pH responsive boronate ester with fast association and dissociation rates, and a redox-active disulfide with slow formation and dissociation rate. In this way, some limitations in linker design can be overcome for controlled release in the tumor microenvironment. more

Controlled Supramolecular Assembly inside Living Cells by Sequential Multi-staged Chemical Reactions.

A modular platform that incorporates intricate molecular recognition, immolative, and rearrangement chemistry to achieve synthetic assembly within living cells. more

Photo-controlled Dopamine Polymerization on DNA Origami with low Nanometer Resolution.

Temporal and spatial control over polydopamine formation on the nanoscale can be achieved by installing an irradiation-sensitive polymerization system on DNA origami. more

Detection of Few Hydrogen Peroxide Molecules Using Self-Reporting Fluorescent Nanodiamond Quantum Sensors

We devised a nanoscale sensor based on nanodiamonds to monitor and quantitatively assess the distribution of H₂O₂ molecules inside living cells, with molecular-level sensitivity. more

Autonomous Ultrafast Self-Healing Hydrogels by pH-Responsive Functional Nanofiber Gelators as Cell Matrices

We report the synthesis of hybrid hydrogels by pH-controlled structural transition with exceptional rheological properties as cellular matrix. The strategy offers many attractive opportunities for 3D tissue engineering and other biomedical applications. more