3D Matter Made to Order

A new Cluster publication from the labs of Principal Investigators Motomu Tanaka and Gislene Pereira, featuring the work of Cluster Doctoral Researcher Rida Zahra and Cluster Alumna Natalie Mundig, reveals how the stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) influences the primary cilium. Understanding the factors that regulate their formation is of considerable biomedical interest, because defects in primary cilia are linked to a wide range of diseases.

Using a synthetic ECM model, the researchers identified an optimal substrate stiffness of 1 kilopascal for inducing ciliogenesis in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Analysis of gene expression profiles associated with this optimal stiffness revealed the molecular mechanism that links ECM stiffness to ciliogenesis. Their findings suggest that the tissue-specific mechanical properties of the ECM contribute to the diversity in the structure and function of primary cilia across different organs. This is particularly relevant for the eye, where increased ECM stiffness is a hallmark of age-related macular degeneration. The study therefore raises the possibility that changes in ECM mechanics may contribute to cilia loss in retinal tissue, pointing toward new therapeutic strategies for preserving cilia function and slowing disease progression.

© Zahra, R., Munding, N., Domsch, K. et al., Scientific Reports (2026), CC BY 4.0

The funding for the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) HyPERiON – High Performance Compact Magnetic Resonance has been extended for another four years. Cluster Principal Investigator Prof. Jan G. Korvink, who serves as spokesperson of the Collaborative Research Centre, expresses his gratitude to the German Research Foundation (DFG) for its continued support.

Coordinated by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), HyPERiON brings together researchers from KIT and the Universities of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Konstanz, and Stuttgart to develop compact, high-performance magnetic resonance systems in a tabletop format. By miniaturizing the core components of magnetic resonance technology, the project aims to make this powerful analytical method more accessible for applications including medical diagnostics, materials analysis, implant monitoring, and drug development.

Congratulations to Prof. Korvink and all researchers involved on the continuation of this collaborative research effort.

© Jens Krauth, KIT

In a new Cluster publication, Doctoral Researchers Steven Kraus and Kristian Kraft, Principal Investigators Yolita M. Eggeler and Martin Wegener, and Postdoctoral Researcher Paul Somers present a novel in situ diagnostic approach for photothermal laser nanoprinting of zinc oxide (ZnO). The researchers combined a printing laser with a co-focused probe laser to directly monitor local temperature changes and material growth dynamics during the printing process with exceptionally high spatial and temporal resolution. This method provides unparalleled insight into essential process parameters, including heating dynamics, temperature distribution, and material deposition. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of photothermal laser printing and support the development of more precise and efficient additive manufacturing technologies. The results may also advance the fabrication of future microelectronic devices and complex, multi-material structures.

© Steven Kraus et al., Laser & Photonics Reviews (2026), CC BY 4.0

Cluster Principal Investigators Peer Fischer and Kai Melde have developed a new holographic 3D printing approach for creating complex 3D structures from liquid crystal materials. In the process, the liquid crystal molecules are first aligned along a common direction while the material remains in liquid form. A holographic light pattern is then projected into the sample, curing the entire structure simultaneously and preserving the original molecular alignment. Unlike conventional 3D printing, which builds objects layer by layer and can disturb this alignment, the new method allows researchers to independently control both the shape and molecular orientation of the final structure. This enables the rapid fabrication of intricate 3D structures with built-in, programmable motion, representing a promising step toward advanced soft robotic components and smart materials.

© Gulati, Lee, Norouzikudiani et al., Advanced Materials (2026), CC BY 4.0

Cluster Principal Investigator Christopher Barner-Kowollik has been awarded the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship 2025. The award was officially presented in Berlin on 12 May by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The Alexander von Humboldt Professorship is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and is considered one of the most prestigious international research awards in Germany. It supports pioneering research and provides recipients with exceptional scientific freedom and long-term research perspectives. Barner-Kowollik recently joined the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia, where he now leads the Institute for Functional Interfaces (IFG). His research focuses on photochemistry and the precise control of chemical reactions using light, with applications in materials science, advanced manufacturing, and medicine.

© Alexander von Humboldt Foundation / David Ausserhofer

A new study including Cluster Postdoctoral Researcher Fan Nan, Doctoral Researcher Josephine Spiegelberg and Principal Investigators Martin Wegener and Moritz Kreysing presents a new, light-driven method for contact-free 3D rotation and spinning of microscopic objects in highly viscous environments. The researchers generated tiny helical fluid flows capable of moving, trapping, rotating, and spinning a broad range of structures, including spherical particles, 3D-printed microstructures, and biological cells, by rapidly scanning a mildly heating laser spot within a two-dimensional plane. The team also showed that carefully designed laser scanning patterns enable precise control of these microscopic flow fields. The highly viscous medium suppresses Brownian motion and stabilizes particle movement. When combined with volumetric microscopy, this approach enables stepwise sample rotation and multi-angle imaging. This opens new opportunities for advanced microscopy, microrobotics, and light-controlled micromanipulation.

© Nan et al., Light: Science & Applications (2026), CC BY 4.0