The LIBER Centre of Excellence

The HYBER Centre of Excellence

The HYBER Center was launched via the Academy of Finland's Center of Excellence Programme 2014-2019, as the CoE in Molecular Engineering of Biosynthetic Hybrid Materials research. HYBER combines research groups working on molecular self-assembly, genetic engineering of proteins, biotechnological production of engineered biomolecules, and plant cell wall materials.

HYBER aims to develop a fundamental understanding of how self-assembled multicomponent materials of the future can be designed and produced using biological starting materials, based on plant cell wall structures and designed biological macromolecules.

VISION: Biological concepts for next-generation materials science

The materials and systems designed by HYBER range from various tough and strong fibre and film composite structures and supracolloidal assemblies to the emergence of complexity. Plant cell walls provide a large source of renewable raw materials, among which native nanocellulose with its very high mechanical modulus is particularly relevant for many applications.

Molecular biology is continuously progressing towards better control and understanding of microbial production systems and providing tools for understanding the function of biological materials. There are already examples of the biotechnological production of materials components at a scale that is relevant for industrial applications. We foresee this growing trend as a challenge to be met. The grand vision is that, ultimately, genetic methods and synthetic biology will allow unsurpassed control of materials properties and functions, and even the programming of dynamic “bionanomachines”.

Our research groups work as biological “tailors” on molecular self-assembly, genetic engineering of proteins, biotechnical production of engineered biomolecules, and plant cell wall materials.