Stefan Research Group

🎉 Thrilled and honored to share the publication of our latest research in The Journal of Physical Chemistry B (ACS)!

🤔 But what’s it all about?
Gels are everywhere, from food (gelatin) to cosmetics (hair gels, creams) and healthcare (bandages). For years, teams worldwide, including ours, have been working to develop gels not made from polymers (i.e., plastics) but from biological molecules: peptides. We took biomimicry a step further by adding a bioinspired twist: DNA bases to the peptides. The result? Gels with an incredible synergy: over 270,000% stronger 😲, thanks to DNA base recognition.

Yet, one major gap remains: understanding the molecular-scale assembly mechanisms in these supramolecular systems. That’s exactly what this work addresses: we combined cutting-edge experimental approaches, namely Fast-Field Cycling (FFC) NMR relaxometry, solid-state NMR (ssNMR), and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, to fill this void.

This methodology is part of a broader multi-scale analysis framework, linking structure annd assembly to properties in a way that’s never been done before.

A huge shout-out to the driving force behind this work: Corentin Boulogne, a brilliant PhD student who will defend his thesis in just a few weeks! 🎓 And of course, to the incredible team of junior and senior researchers who poured their energy into this project:

• Jérémy Morere & Emmanuelle Bignon (theoretical chemistry, LCPT)

• Paul Hoschtettler & Marie-Christine Averlant-Petit (chemistry, ex-LCPM/LRGP)

• Noée Sigalas, Sabine Bouguet-Bonnet & Carole Gardiennet (NMR expertise, CRM2)

This breakthrough was only possible thanks to the cross-disciplinary expertise and synergy of everyone involved. Here’s to celebrating the alchemy of collaboration and the shared passion that made it happen! 🧬✨

This work was funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-20-CE06-0010-01 MUNCH 😱)

📖 Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.6c03854

🎉 I’m happy to share that our latest research has just been published in ChemPhysChem journal !

🤔 Can we predict hydrogel gelation kinetics with a simple model?

One of the key properties of hydrogels is their mechanical behavior, including storage/loss moduli and formation kinetics. But how long does it take for a gel to form? And can we describe and predict this process for supramolecular hydrogels using a simple model? 

💻 To answer this, we developed an open-access program to model the kinetics of peptide-based hydrogels, thanks to the use of DNA-nucleobase/peptide hybrids (also termed nucleopeptides) as a model. Even better: by studying single-component mixtures, we can accurately predict the behavior of multi-component hydrogels, which is a major step forward!

➡️ Our tool is a game-changer: it lets researchers save time and resources by estimating hydrogel kinetics without lengthy rheometer experiments, accelerating the development of new materials.

A collaborative success from LRGP, LCPM and Institut Galien between chemists, physical chemists, and physicists: don’t miss it!

This work was funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-20-CE06-0010-01 MUNCH)

📖 Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202500822

🎉 I’m happy to share that our latest research has just been published in the ACS Materials Au journal !

🔬 Hydrogels, which are hybrid materials bridging the gap between liquid and solid states, are traditionally polymer-based. But what if we could go further?

In our latest study, our team explores a new generation of hybrid molecules: nucleopeptides, peptides functionalized with DNA bases 🧬 (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine).

By combining charged peptide sequences and nucleobase pairing, we reveal how electrostatic and molecular interactions shape their mechanical and physicochemical properties. A multiscale approach uncovers unexpected behaviors, highlighting the complexity and promise of these hybrid systems and paving the way for next-gen biomaterials.

This work was funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-20-CE06-0010-01 MUNCH)

📖 Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialsau.5c00240