M.B. Baker

Matt Baker's research interests include the synthesis and characterization of novel and dynamic materials to mimic the cellular environment and to influence cellular behavior. Of particular interest is the use of reversible supramolecular interactions (e.g. host-guest, supramolecular polymers, hydrogen bonding) to build these materials and the use of mechanochemistry to influence and measure cellular responses.

Matthew received his B.S. in chemistry (2006) at Clemson University in the United States and worked shortly for Tetramer Technologies, LLC, a start-up company commercializing novel fluoropolymers developed at Clemson University. He obtained his PhD in 2012 in Physical Organic Chemistry under the guidance of Ronald K. Castellano at the University of Florida. Here, he studied some atypical small molecule organogelators and developed structure/property relationships leading to the creation of multifunctional molecules from a singular synthon. He then moved to Eindhoven University of Technology to design and characterize water soluble supramolecular polymers under guidance of Prof. E. W. Meijer. Here he started a foray into regenerative medicine by creating supramolecular hydrogelators for extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics.

In May 2015, he joined the MERLN institute as a researcher and PI. Here he aims to enhance the synthetic chemistry and materials used at the MERLN institute, while also starting a group to explore the utility of supramolecular and mechano- chemistry in understanding and enhancing cell-material interactions.

Email: m.baker@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Selected publications:

• Baker MB, Albertazzi L, Voets IK, Leenders CMA, Palmans ARA, Pavan GM, Meijer EW. "Consequences of chirality on the dynamics of a water-soluble supramolecular polymer." Nature Communications, 2015, 6, 6234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7234

• Leenders CMA, Mes T, Baker MB, Koenigs MME, Besenius P, Palmans ARA, Meijer EW. "From supramolecular polymers to hydrogel materials." Materials Horizons, 2014, 1, 116–120.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3mh00103b
• Bou Zerdan R, Cohn P, Puodziukynaite E, Baker MB, Voisin M, Sarun C, Castellano RK. "Synthesis, optical properties, and electronic structures of nucleobase-containing pi-conjugated oligomers." The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 80, 1828–1840. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jo502773g

• Baker MB, Ghiviriga I, Castellano RK. "Molecular multifunctionalization via electronically coupled lactones." Chemical Science, 2012, 3, 1095–1099.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c2sc00943a

 Read the complete list of publications.