Biofunctional and stimuli-responsive polymer surfaces Behavior of cells and bacteria at the interfaces, biocompatibility of materials, antifouling and antibacterial effects depend on specific surface properties, such as surface chemistry, surface morphology, porosity and elasticity, as well as on their combinations. The performance of existing biomedical devices, implants and cell culture dishes depends on the understanding of cell-surface interactions and on the ability to control surface properties. In our group, we are trying both to understand better how cells interact with surfaces and also to develop methods to effectively control and direct behavior of cells. We develop general and easily accessible methods, based on polymer and organic chemistry, for creating surfaces with defined and tunable properties. We use these surfaces to study the influence of different surface properties on behavior of cells and bacteria. We also work on the development of novel “smart” surfaces that can respond to external stimuli and, thus, can be used to dynamically control behavior of cells or bacteria. Future applications of the stimuli-responsive surfaces will include self-activated antibacterial coatings and light-switchable surfaces for cell manipulations. Superhydrophobic surfaces and materials Superhydrophobic surfaces, i.e. surfaces possessing high advancing water contact angle and low water contact angle hysteresis, have attracted significant attention because of their unique water-repellent and self-cleaning properties and their potential for practical applications ranging from biotechnology to self- cleaning commodity materials. We work on the development of novel methods for the preparation of superhydrophobic as well as superhydrophilic surfaces. We use the methods and produced surfaces in different analytical and biological applications. RESEARCH MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS HOME MEMBERS CONTACT The University of Heidelberg, Department of Applied Physical Chemistry The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Toxicology and Genetics Contact: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Campus North) Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Germany Tel: +49-724782-9175 Fax: +49-7247-82-3354