Interface Flexibility.

Geometric patterns are abundantly present in nature and often form via the supramolecular organization of protein macromonomers. Synthetic model systems can help understand the contribution of molecular design parameters to global structure, outside the complexity of biology. I used DNA-based nanomaterials to decouple structural flexibility as design parameter of geometric order, in an attempt to understand the importance of nanorigidity on the physical mechanisms behind multivalent bioactivation pathways. Spatial tolerance in directional multivalent interactions, e.g. interface flexibility, was identified as a critical parameter that guides communication at the biointerface [V. Caroprese, 2025].

Remarkably, affinity alone could not overcome the negative effects caused by interface flexibility. The interface flexibility principle is a new way to look at supramolecular and biological communication, as translation of activity only happens when the interfaces are within a defined distance. Our insights pave the way toward the engineering of biomaterials for potent biointerface communication, and provide a rationale for flexibility transitions in natural multivalent systems.