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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 dynamic and reversible interactions 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. He obtained his PhD in 2012 in Physical Organic Chemistry under the guidance of Ronald K. Castellano at the University of Florida. He then moved to Eindhoven University of Technology to design and characterize water soluble supramolecular polymers under guidance of Prof. E. W. Meijer. 

In May 2015, he joined the MERLN institute as a researcher and PI. Here he runs a group that enhances the synthetic chemistry and materials used at the MERLN institute, and explores explore the utility of supramolecular and dynamic- chemistry in understanding and enhancing cell-material interactions. In 2023, he was awarded the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant, and in 2024, he was promoted to Associate Professor. His current research projects involve the molecular design of materials spanning tissue engineering for biomedical applications, cellular agriculture, and living materials.

Email: m.baker@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Selected publications:

  • Morgan FLC, Beeren IAO, Bauer J, Moroni L, Baker MB. "Structure–Reactivity Relationships in a Small Library of Imine-Type Dynamic Covalent Materials: Determination of Rate and Equilibrium Constants Enables Model Prediction and Validation of a Unique Mechanical Softening in Dynamic Hydrogels." Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2024, 146(40), 27499-27516. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c08099
  • Aldana AA, Kuhnt T, Marroquin Garcia R, Moroni L, Baker MB. "Digital Light Processing Resins with Programmable Shape Memory for Biomedical Applications." Biomacromolecules, 2024, 25(8), 4677-4685. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4BM00409D
  • Feliciano AJ, Selsouli YA, Habibovic P, Birgani ZNT, Moroni L, Baker MB. "Granular polyrotaxane microgels as injectable hydrogels for corneal tissue regeneration." Biomaterials Science, 2024, 12(19), 4993-5009. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4BM00409D
  • Hafeez S, Decarli MC, Aldana A, Ebrahimi M, Ruiter FAA, Duimel H, van Blitterswijk C, Pitet LM, Moroni L, Baker MB. "In Situ Covalent Reinforcement of a Benzene-1, 3, 5-Tricarboxamide Supramolecular Polymer Enables Biomimetic, Tough, and Fibrous Hydrogels and Bioinks." Advanced Materials, 2023, 35(35), 2301242. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202301242
  • Ruiter FAA, Morgan FLC, Roumans N, Schumacher A, Slaats GG, Moroni L, LaPointe VLS, Baker MB. "Soft, dynamic hydrogel confinement improves kidney organoid lumen morphology and reduces epithelial–mesenchymal transition in culture." Advanced Science, 2022, 9(20), 2200543. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202200543