Programmable Biomaterials Laboratory
Illustration: Prof. Maartje Bastings
What are programmable biomaterials?
Programmable biomaterials are materials of biological origin designed to interact with the body, to support healing, deliver therapeutics, or detect disease. Over the past century, biomaterials have transformed medicine, and thanks to advances in nanotechnology, we can now build them at a scale small enough to interact directly with cells. At this level, materials no longer engage tissues broadly; instead, they touch precise regions on the surface of individual cells. This shift makes biological communication not just more targeted, but far more intricate.
But a few key questions remain: When and where does binding happen? How many molecular contacts are involved, and how strong are they? These parameters determine whether a material is ignored, integrated, or actively triggers a cellular response. We use DNA as a programmable material to explore and control these variables, not just to deliver signals, but to organize them in space and time. In doing so, we’re teaching materials to “speak” the cellular language, building tools that can engage in nanoscale dialogue with cells, translating molecules into meaning.
Aims
We explore how to control biomaterial-cell interactions through multivalency, the principle that many weak molecular interactions can produce strong and selective binding. To do this, we use DNA as a programmable material, valued for its predictable structure, nanoscale precision, and versatility in organizing molecular cues.
Our aim is twofold: (1) to use DNA-based multivalent engineering to precisely control the number, spacing, rigidity and geometry of signals presented to cells, and (2) to investigate, at a fundamental level, the design parameters that govern biostable DNA-based materials and the interaction space of multivalent supramolecular architectures.
Together, these studies allow us to uncover how nanoscale patterning and material mechanics shape biological responses, guiding the design of next-generation biomaterial diagnostics and therapeutics that communicate with (and inside) cells intelligently and selectively.
Key scientific contributions
Bila, H., Paloja, K., Caroprese, V. et al. Multivalent Pattern Recognition through Control of Nano-Spacing in Low-Valency Super-Selective Materials. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022 144 (47), 21576-21586 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08529
We demonstrated that spatial arrangement of ligands and not just their number, governs super-selective binding, enabling precise cell targeting and immune activation with minimal ligand copy number.
Caroprese, V., Tekin, C., Cencen, V. et al. Interface flexibility controls the nucleation and growth of supramolecular networks. Nat. Chem. 17, 325–333 (2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01741-y
We uncovered that nanoscale rigidity enhances selective cell engagement and supramolecular interactions, revealing interface flexibility as a key regulator of multivalent bioactivity.
Kononenko, A., Caroprese, V., Duhoo, Y. et al. Evolution of multivalent supramolecular assemblies of aptamers with target-defined spatial organization. Nat. Nanotechnol (2025). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-025-01939-8
We developed MEDUSA, a patented platform that evolves nucleic acid binders in geometrically defined multivalent contexts, enabling high-affinity targeting of multimeric biological structures like viral spike proteins.
Weiden, J., Bastings, Maartje M.C. DNA origami nanostructures for controlled therapeutic drug delivery. Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science, Volume 52, 2021, 101411, ISSN 1359-0294, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cocis.2020.101411.
We advanced DNA nanotechnology toward therapeutic use by developing new coatings and defining how nanostructure design affects stability, cellular uptake, and intracellular fate.
Perspectives
We envision a future where biomaterials do not simply operate within the body, but communicate with it fluently, selectively, and intelligently. By decoding the spatial and mechanical principles that govern multivalent interactions, we aim to design materials that engage cells with the same precision as natural systems.
Looking ahead, we will expand our efforts in programmable interface design, evolving new classes of binders through MEDUSA, and exploring how dynamic, adaptive architectures can further enhance selectivity and function.
Our ultimate goal is to create smart biomaterials that operate as diagnostic sensors, immune modulators, or therapeutic agents capable of recognizing, interpreting, and responding to complex biological environments in real time with the highest accuracy.