Claudius Lupfer

Project description

Training Materials like Muscles
The goal of my research is the development of mechano-fluorescent and mechano-adaptive materials. Materials that are, for example, capable to report applied mechanical stress and self-reinforce themselves after. They mimic living tissues like muscles that become stronger after repetitive exercise.

Project outcome

• Researched the development of bioinspired smart materials mimicking self-regulation, mechano-adaptation, and signal transduction
• Combined synthetic polymers, mechanosensitive systems, and programmable DNA nanotechnology
• Engineered temperature-responsive core/shell microparticles for confined reaction acceleration and phase control
• Designed a mechano-immolative hydrogel that self-destructs upon mechanical stress – for use in self-regulating actuators and adhesives
• Created a trainable elastomer system with disulfide-based mechanochromophores for visual stress feedback and UV-resettable mechanical memory
• Established a DNA-integrated double-network hydrogel with high mechanical resilience and fluorescent stress sensing

First supervisor and dissertation

Prof. Dr. Andreas Walther

Claudius Lupfer successfully defended her dissertation in December 2024.