RSA CE&C 2015-2021 Group descriptions

70 structure-function relationships as well as control over each step in the self-assembly process. The challenge is experimental on the one hand – the development and application of state- of-the-art tools is essential to accessing the relevant regimes of length and timescales – and is, on the other hand, fundamental: to what extent can self-organization truly be directed or programmed? The fundamental research in this subtheme offers guidelines to simplify and improve complex manufacturing processes and formulations of soft materials (paints, coatings, additives, composites) to establish more environmentally benign, faster, cheaper and more efficient ways of manufacturing and applying soft materials. 2. Self-organization in biological soft matter The focal point of the second line of research is the behavior of (bio)polymers at interfaces and, in particular, the modulation of (ice) crystal growth via proteins and water-soluble (co) polymers, the fouling of solid substrates by food proteins and the submicron visualization of biomacromolecules in complex food matrices. The group investigates and develops (bio)macromolecules that adhere to interfaces and thereby affect colloidal structures – especially the growth rate, morphology and dimensions of ice crystals, food emulsions and networks – and induce interface fouling. On the one hand, new experimental methods are being developed to study the impact of macromolecules on crystal growth, quantify protein adsorption and elucidate the underlying physical principles. On the other hand, the group studies whether active compounds (proteins, peptides, polymers) are also successful in complex environments in the presence of various interfaces and additional components. 3. Biohybrid materials The recently established subtheme of biohybrid materials centers around engineered living materials and solvent-free protein liquids. These materials marry man-made and biological elements aiming to create biohybrid systems that outperformboth their synthetic and natural counterparts. Our group focuses on the elucidation of the physico-chemical principles that govern the formation, structure, dynamics and activity of this extraordinary class of materials and investigates their application potential in e.g., coating technology, bio-catalysis (e.g., in deep eutectic solvents), construction and biomedicine (enzyme replacement therapy). Major accomplishments in the evaluation period Research quality and scientific relevance The overview below briefly summarizes the key findings of the group reported in the period 2015-2021. 1. Self-organization in man-made soft materials Since the influential work on complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms) and Janus micelles, the group has focused on the rational design of aqueous self-assembly pathways to yield desired supramolecular structures with predictable properties. 2-6 The group was the first to demonstrate the temporally programmed dissociation of C3Ms 7 and the folding of single- chain polymeric nanoparticles into elongated, multidomain architectures instead of compact globules. 8-9 Pioneering work in soft matter nanoscopy led to a series of major breakthroughs, including the new iPAINT tool, 10-13 the first visualization of supramolecular block copolymers 14 and the first simultaneous and in-situ visualization of individual nanoparticles and the liquid- liquid interface into which these are adsorbed. 13 Other key developments spearheaded by the group include the precision engineering of light and temperature-responsive supramolecular colloids, 15 the design and synthesis of light-responsive micron-sized DNA- coated colloids and the creation of light-responsive Pickering emulsions using this new class of particles. 16 The group introduced a new super-resolution microscopy tool enabling submicron visualization in organic solvents 17 and exploited iPAINT to experimentally