Merging controlled molecular architectures with 3D (micro)printing

self-assembly, sequence-defined polymers

As in many other fields, nature has been a source of inspiration in additive nanomanufacturing. For example, the micro- and nanostructures present in gecko´s setae were reproduced using 3D laser printing enabling the preparation of surfaces with exceptional adhesion properties. Other microorganisms such as bacteria have been the inspiration for the fabrication of micro-robots. While most current approaches focus on the replication of the 3D geometries of the nanostructures, there is still a lack of printable materials displaying a true hierarchical structure. Thus, our goal is to mimic nature´s hierarchical materials and designing new printable materials that exhibit defined and controlled monomer sequences and multiscale structural organization.