Micro- and Nanomaterials for Regenerative Medicine
Precision-engineered micro- and nanomaterials offer powerful tools to guide and control biological processes at the cellular and subcellular level. At MERLN, we design and synthesize micro- and nanoparticles with tailored properties—such as size, shape, surface chemistry, and responsiveness—to influence cell behavior and enable targeted delivery of bioactive cues.
These materials play a central role in bottom-up tissue engineering, where tissues are built by assembling functional building blocks— composed of cells, signaling molecules, and/or structural components—from the nanoscale upward. By interacting with cells at their native length scales, micro- and nanomaterials can direct adhesion, migration, differentiation, and tissue organization with high precision.
We apply advanced strategies in nanoparticle synthesis and surface functionalization to create smart carriers, imaging agents, and instructive building blocks that integrate seamlessly into regenerative therapies. Our aim is to translate nanoscale control into macroscale healing—bridging material innovation with clinical relevance.
In parallel, we develop microfabrication platforms to produce microparticles with precisely controlled features. Using a broad toolbox of conventional and advanced techniques, including emulsion methods, droplet microfluidics, micromolding, and photolithography, we engineer microparticles with diverse sizes and shapes from a wide range of biomaterials such as network polymers, hydrogels, ECM mimics, and bioceramics. We finely tune their bulk and surface properties to guide cellular responses and enhance integration into tissue constructs. Moreover, we are advancing scalable, high-throughput systems for the efficient production of these engineered micromaterials.
