Regular biography
Maartje Bastings is an Associate Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the BIO department. Her research focuses on the design of DNA-based supramolecular materials that integrate dynamic reciprocity between soft matter and cells. She leads the Programmable Biomaterials Laboratory, where her work explores molecular design rules for selective multivalent interactions at the bio-interface using DNA as an engineering tool. Bastings bridges supramolecular materials with cell biology, emphasizing biophysical quantification of interactions. Her research has implications for diagnostics and vaccine development through the creation of materials with exceptional precision and specificity in functional interactions.
Scholar-generated biography
Maartje Bastings is a researcher at EPFL specializing in multivalency, biomaterials, DNA-nanotechnology, and self-assembly. Her work explores the design and application of supramolecular polymers, DNA nanostructures, and injectable hydrogels for biomedical purposes. Bastings investigates how DNA-based materials can be used for drug delivery, cellular uptake modulation, and therapeutic applications such as cardiac repair and vaccine development. Her research also includes the development of pH-responsive and self-healing materials for controlled drug release and the engineering of DNA origami for biomedical applications. She has contributed to the understanding of multivalent interactions and their role in cellular processes, including receptor mobility and nanomaterial interactions.