Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces

The Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces is located in Potsdam-Golm Science Park in Golm, Germany. The institute examines nano- and microstructures specifically colloids in which many are found in nature. With discoveries, scientists create tiny apatite crystals in bones, vesicles formed out of membranes, pores in membranes for fuel cells and microcapsules as vehicles for medical drugs. Understanding the function of these structures can also help to identify the causes of certain diseases that occur when the folding of membranes or the transport of materials in cells fails to work properly. The understanding of basic mechanisms by which the structure of bone or connective tissue is optimized opens the way for studying diseases and, thus, for contributing to diagnosis and development of treatment strategies. Given the complexity of natural materials, new approaches for structural characterization are needed. The emphasis is on understanding how the mechanical or other physical properties are governed by structure and composition and how they adopt to environmental conditions. The Department of Biomaterials focuses on interdisciplinary research in the field of biological and biomimetic materials.