This collaboration aims to bridge a clear gap that in materials science: methacrylated hydrogels are a ubiquitous material for tissue engineering, however a clear method to develop and modify methacrylated hydrogels with specific properties for various in-vivo applications does not yet exist.

Our objective is to bring together the strong command that the Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research Mainz has over modifying the various properties of polymers, to the real-world applications that Edinburgh University works towards, creating a beneficial data set for all within the field.

To this end, we plan to develop the chemical processes for the synthesis and scaling of biopolymers for optimising the properties and performance of hydrogel-based materials, particularly in tissue engineering, which will provide valuable insights into the material’s applications, long-term stability, and lifecycle in biological environments.