The Mata Lab

Nature has evolved to grow and heal sophisticated structures through the assembly of multiple types of molecular building blocks. As the need for more efficient regenerative solutions increases, it is essential to develop approaches that can more accurately recreate these complex biological systems.

We work at the interface of supramolecular chemistry and engineering to develop materials and fabrication processes that can bridge the gap between molecular design and macroscopic functionality for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. We aim to use phenomena such as protein order-disorder synergies, compartmentalisation, and molecular self-assembly and techniques such as bioprinting to develop supramolecular tools to engineer materials with high programmability, hierarchy, and capacity to recapitulate the functionality of natural tissues in a controlled manner.

Through this approach, we are developing more efficient regenerative therapies and biologically relevant in vitro models.