MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE

The Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP) ranks among the top research centres in the field of polymer research worldwide. The institute was founded in 1983 on the campus of the Johannes Gutenberg University and commenced work in June 1984. The focus on so-called soft materials has resulted in the worldwide unique position of the MPIP and its research focus. The MPIP offers ideal conditions for conducting outstanding research in polymer science. The institute combines all the necessary specialised expertise - from the creative design of new materials, from their synthesis in the laboratory to their physical characterisation as well as the theoretical understanding of polymer characteristics. The Institute is divided into six main research areas:

• Multiscale Challenges

• Proteins at Interfaces

• Non-equilibrium Structure Formation

• Water at Interfaces • Defect Engineering

• Nanomaterials in Medicine

There are strong interactions between the different departments working on interdisciplinary research projects. In addition, the institute has several service groups at its disposal, e.g. analysis of polymers, spectroscopy, electronic data processing, x-ray structure analysis, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and mechanical spectroscopy. Each service group is headed by one of the institute’s directors, but these services are accessible to all the scientists at the institute. The department of physical-chemistry of polymers is a worldwide leading group in the synthesis and characterisation of polymer-based, nano-dimensional colloids. Tailored chemical compositions of nanoparticles for biomedical, material-science and coating applications is our key competence. Furthermore, we offer thorough characterisation of the synthesised materials by means of electron microscopy, polymer analytics and scattering methods. In addition, the department has the facilities to determine the biomedical properties of the synthesised colloids. With this, the department of physical-chemistry of polymers holds the facilities for the complete chain of knowledge ranging from the synthesis to the biomedical characterisation of nano-sized polymeric nanoparticles. The department of macromolecule synthesis is a leading group in the synthesis of functional (bio)hybrid materials with special focus on designing materials for biomedical applications. The combination of biopolymers derived from proteins with nanodiamonds has provided new avenues for designing advanced nanomaterials for imaging and therapy. The MPIP will contribute to the research project with its renowned expertise in nano-encapsulation, synthesis of polymer nanoparticles, preparation and surface functionalisation of nano-diamonds.

 

Role In Project

Hyperpolarised molecules are sensitive to any uncontrolled contact with the environmental surrounding. However,

in order to use the developed hyperpolarisation strategies for medical applications, it is of vital importance to

protect the probe molecules from any external influence. It will be one aim of the WP carried out at the MPIP, to

encapsulate the sensitive probes in a way to conserve the hyperpolarisation and furthermore to equip the

encapsulation shell with functionalities that yield an added value to the probe system for medical applications. In

addition, diamonds will be developed with increasing concentrations of 13C they will be coated with biopolymers

that will prohibit aggregation.