{"id":6966,"date":"2026-04-01T14:02:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/portfolio\/francis-morgan\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T14:02:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:02:31","slug":"francis-morgan","status":"publish","type":"us_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/portfolio\/francis-morgan\/","title":{"rendered":"Francis Morgan"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":6967,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"us_portfolio_category":[45],"class_list":["post-6966","us_portfolio","type-us_portfolio","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","us_portfolio_category-new-template"],"acf":{"naam_van_het_proefschift":"Bond. Dynamic bond","samenvatting":"Het werk in deze thesis focust zich op de ontwikkeling van chemische aanpassingen van de mechanische eigenschappen van hydrogels. In de basis worden deze eigenschappen van hydrogels bepaald door samenstelling en dichtheid van polymeernetwerkverbindingen. Traditionele methodes vari\u00ebren deze parameters gelijktijdig door aanpassingen aan het moleculaire gewicht van de polymeren, de mate van functionalisatie en het massapercentage. In dit werk gebruiken we dynamische covalente chemie om onafhankelijke controle te verkrijgen over chemische netwerkverbindingen (\u2018crosslinks\u2019), waardoor nieuwe combinaties van mechanische eigenschappen mogelijk worden. Omdat de staat van een dynamisch covalente crosslink (DCC) gedefinieerd wordt door de reactiesnelheid- en equilibrium-constanten (RECs), is er een expliciet verband tussen de moleculaire RECs en het macroscopische polymeer- (hydrogel)netwerk en de bijbehorende macroscopische mechanische eigenschappen.\n\nSpecifieke combinaties van mechanische eigenschappen zijn erg gewild voor verscheidene toepassingen. Bio-inkt bijvoorbeeld moet pseudoplastisch en zelf-herstellend zijn, terwijl de stijfheid constant blijft om cel-instructief te zijn. Mechanobiologische platforms echter moeten (bio)mechanische signalen, zoals stijfheid en viscoelasticiteit, ontkoppelen, terwijl herbruikbare chemische systemen matrices gebruiken die herwonnen kunnen worden.\n\nIn dit werk boeken we op een aantal significante wijzen vooruitgang in de rationele engineering van hydrogelmechanica. Allereerst bieden de DCCs de zachte materiaal gemeenschap een toegankelijk en voorspelbaar middel voor de vertaling van modelstudies naar praktijk. Dit wordt mogelijk gemaakt door kwantitatieve bepaling van RECs voor een serie functies die zowel micro- als macromoleculen gebruiken. Er is een bijgaand model ontworpen om veranderingen in hydrogelmechanica te voorspellen op basis van de RECs. Verder is de impact van macromeerlengte en valentie op netwerktopografie en de resulterende hydrogelmechanica onderzocht. Ten tweede tonen we door de combinatie van meerdere DCCs aan dat sub-stoichiometrisch gemixte crosslinker systemen mechanische eigenschappen kunnen verkrijgen die tussen die van de individuele DCCs liggen. Dit is gevalideerd door de ontwikkeling van 3D-printbare bio-inkt die zowel verwerkbaar als fibroblast instruerend is. Ten derde demonstreert de integratie van dynamische netwerkverbindingen in dubbel-netwerk hydrogels dat cellen gevoelig zijn voor lokale netwerkeigenschappen, een gegeven dat niet altijd weerspiegelt wordt in grove mechanische metingen. Ten slotte hebben we een gedefinieerde, synthetische macromeer geproduceerd en gevalideerd als een alternatief voor natuurlijke biopolymeren, die vaak heterogeen en vatbaar voor degradatie zijn.\n\nDeze thesis biedt nieuw gereedschap binnen dynamisch covalente chemie met een nadruk op nieuwe en voorspellende methoden voor het gestuurd ontwerpen van mechanische hydrogel-eigenschappen. Dit zal gebruikt worden voor de volgende generatie zacht materiaal met gespecificeerd mechanisch gedrag.","summary":"The work presented in this thesis focuses on the development of chemical approaches to engineering the mechanical properties of hydrogels. Fundamentally, a hydrogel\u2019s mechanical properties are dictated by the nature and density of network junctions and network entanglements. Traditional approaches vary these parameters simultaneously by changing inputs such as the polymer molecular weight, degree of functionalization, and mass content. Here, we leverage dynamic covalent chemistry to exert independent control over chemical network junctions (crosslinks), enabling access to new combinations of mechanical properties. As the state of a dynamic covalent crosslink can be defined by the rate and equilibrium constants (RECs), there is an explicit relationship between these molecular RECs and the macroscopic polymer (hydrogel) network, and the resulting, macroscopic mechanical properties.\n\nNotably, specific mechanical regimes are sought after for many diverse applications. For example, bioinks require shear-thinning and self-healing behaviors for processability while maintaining constant rigidity for cell-instructive potential, whereas mechanobiological platforms need to decouple different (bio)mechanical cues such as rigidity and viscoelasticity, and recyclable chemical systems need matrices that can be disassembled and recovered.\n\nThe present work advances the rational engineering of hydrogel mechanics in multiple significant ways. First, by enabling the translation of model studies to practical systems, dynamic covalent crosslinks are a more accessible and predictive tool for the soft matter community. This is achieved by the quantitative determination of RECs for a series of common functions using both small molecules and macromers, highlighting how quantitative values differ between model and practical systems. An accompanying model to predict changes in hydrogel mechanics from knowledge of RECs is developed, and the impact of macromer length and valency on network topography and resulting hydrogel mechanics is explored. Second, by combining multiple dynamic covalent crosslinkers, it is shown that sub-stoichiometric mixed crosslinker systems may access intermediate mechanical regimes between the individual dynamic crosslinkers. This approach is then validated by developing a 3D-printable bioink which retains processability while guiding fibroblast morphology. Third, the integration of dynamic network junctions into double network hydrogels reveals that cells are sensitive to local network strand behavior, which is not always well-represented by bulk mechanical measurements. Finally, given the predominance of natural biopolymeric macromers, which suffer from heterogeneity and potential degradation routes, a chemically well-defined synthetic macromer is synthesized and validated as an alternative.\n\nThis thesis updates the molecular-scale toolbox of dynamic covalent chemistry, highlights novel and predictive approaches to rationally targeting mechanical hydrogel properties, and will be of use for the preparation of next-generation soft matter with specific sets of mechanical behaviors.\n\nScientific publications included in this thesis\n\n\u2022 Morgan, F. L. C.; Joris, V.; Aldana, A. A.; Moroni, L.; van Griensven, M.; Baker, M. B. Injectable double network hydrogels with selectively cell-adhesive static or dynamic networks modulate the hMSC secretome for enhanced mineralization. Manuscript in preparation.\n\u2022 Morgan, F. L. C.; Moroni, L.; Baker, M. B. Effect of cross-linker length and valency on dynamic hydrogel networks: decoupling rate and equilibrium constants from topology in hydrazone based synthetic hydrogel networks. Manuscript under review.\n\u2022 Morgan, F. L. C.; Beeren, I. A. O.; Bauer, J.; Moroni, L.; Baker, M. B. Structure\u2013Reactivity 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. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146 (40), 27499\u201327516. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/jacs.4c08099.\n\u2022 Beeren, I. A. O.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Rademakers, T.; Bauer, J.; Dijkstra, P. J.; Moroni, L.; Baker, M. B. Well-Defined Synthetic Copolymers with Pendant Aldehydes Form Biocompatible Strain-Stiffening Hydrogels and Enable Competitive Ligand Displacement. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146 (35), 24330\u201324347. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/jacs.4c04988.\n\u2022 Aldana, A. A.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Houben, S.; Pitet, L. M.; Moroni, L.; Baker, M. B. Biomimetic Double Network Hydrogels: Combining Dynamic and Static Crosslinks to Enable Biofabrication and Control Cell-Matrix Interactions. J. Polym. Sci. 2021, 59 (22), 2832\u20132843. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/pol.20210554.\n\u2022 Morgan, F. L. C.; Fern\u00e1ndez-P\u00e9rez, J.; Moroni, L.; Baker, M. B. Tuning Hydrogels by Mixing Dynamic Cross-Linkers: Enabling Cell-Instructive Hydrogels and Advanced Bioinks. Adv. Healthc. Mater. 2021, 11 (1), 2101576. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/adhm.202101576.\n\u2022 Morgan, F. L. C.; Moroni, L.; Baker, M. B. Dynamic Bioinks to Advance Bioprinting. Adv. Healthc. Mater. 2020, 9 (15), 1901798. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/adhm.201901798.\n\nOutside of this thesis\n\n\u2022 Brentjens, L. B. S.; Obukhova, D.; Delvoux, B.; Hartog, J. e. den; Bui, B. n.; Mol, F.; Bruin, J. p. de; Besselink, D.; Teklenburg, G.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Baker, M.; Broekmans, F. J.; Golde, R. j. t. van; Esteki, M. Z.; Romano, A. Local Production of N7B-Estradiol in the Endometrium during the Implantation Window: A Pilot Study. Reprod. Fertil. 2023, 4 (4). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1530\/raf-23-0065.\n\u2022 Decarli, M. C.; Seijas-Gamardo, A.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Wieringa, P.; Baker, M. B.; Silva, J. V. L.; Moraes, \u00c2. M.; Moroni, L.; Mota, C. Bioprinting of Stem Cell Spheroids Followed by Post-Printing Chondrogenic Differentiation for Cartilage Tissue Engineering. Adv. Healthc. Mater. 2023, 12 (19), 2203021. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/adhm.202203021.\n\u2022 Ruiter, F. A. A.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Roumans, N.; Schumacher, A.; Slaats, G. G.; Moroni, L.; LaPointe, V. L. S.; Baker, M. B. Soft, Dynamic Hydrogel Confinement Improves Kidney Organoid Lumen Morphology and Reduces Epithelial\u2013Mesenchymal Transition in Culture. Adv. Sci. 2022, 9 (20), 2200543. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/advs.202200543.\n\u2022 Kuhnt, T.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Baker, M. B.; Moroni, L. An Efficient and Easily Adjustable Heating Stage for Digital Light Processing Set-Ups. Addit. Manuf. 2021, 46, 102102. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.addma.2021.102102.\n\u2022 Geuens, T.; Ruiter, F. A. A.; Schumacher, A.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Rademakers, T.; Wiersma, L. E.; van den Berg, C. W.; Rabelink, T. J.; Baker, M. B.; LaPointe, V. L. S. Thiol-Ene Cross-Linked Alginate Hydrogel Encapsulation Modulates the Extracellular Matrix of Kidney Organoids by Reducing Abnormal Type 1a1 Collagen Deposition. Biomaterials 2021, 275, 120976. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2021.120976.\n\u2022 Malheiro, A.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Baker, M.; Moroni, L.; Wieringa, P. A Three-Dimensional Biomimetic Peripheral Nerve Model for Drug Testing and Disease Modelling. Biomaterials 2020, 257, 120230. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2020.120230.\n\u2022 Ooi, H. W.; Kocken, J. M. M.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Malheiro, A.; Zoetebier, B.; Karperien, M.; Wieringa, P. A.; Dijkstra, P. J.; Moroni, L.; Baker, M. B. Multivalency Enables Dynamic Supramolecular Host\u2013Guest Hydrogel Formation. Biomacromolecules 2020, 21 (6). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.biomac.0c00148.\n\u2022 Hafeez, S.; Ooi, H.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Mota, C.; Baker, M.; Moroni, L.; van Blitterswijk, C.; Dettin, M. Viscoelastic Oxidized Alginates with Reversible Imine Type Crosslinks: Self-Healing, Injectable, and Bioprintable Hydrogels. Gels 2018, 4 (4), 85. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/gels4040085.\n\u2022 Chen, K.; Barker, A. J.; Morgan, F. L. C.; Halpert, J. E.; Hodgkiss, J. M. Effect of Carrier Thermalization Dynamics on Light Emission and Amplification in Organometal Halide Perovskites. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2015, 6 (1), 153\u2013158. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/jz502528c.\n\nScientific communication\n\nInvited talks\n2024 \u2013 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA. \u201cBond. Dynamic bond: Rational design of dynamic covalent hydrogels and applications in tissue engineering\u201d\n2023 \u2013 RMeS INSERM, Nantes, France. \u201cDynamic Covalent Hydrogels: From Molecular Design to Applications\u201d\n\nOral presentations\n2022 \u2013 American Chemical Society (ACS). \u201cFrom molecular constants to hydrogel mechanics: Engineering tunable dynamic Schiff base hydrogels enables 3D bioprinting\u201d\n2022 \u2013 European Society for Biomaterials (ESB). \u201cMolecular constants of reversible Schiff base formation: How to design dynamic hydrogels from the bottom up\u201d\n2021 \u2013 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS). \u201cFrom molecular constants to macroscopic mechanics: Tunable oxidized alginate hydrogels using mixed dynamic crosslinkers\u201d\n2021 \u2013 European Society for Biomaterials (ESB). \u201cTuning dynamic hydrogels via molecular engineering: Equilibria constants in Schiff base hydrogels\u201d\n2021 \u2013 Chemistry as Innovating Science (CHAINS). \u201cMolecularly engineering hydrogel mechanics: designing tunable dynamic hydrogels\u201d\n\nPoster presentations\n2020 \u2013 Chemistry as Innovating Science (CHAINS). \u201cMolecular constants to cell responses: engineering ECM-like hydrogels\u201d\n2020 \u2013 World Biomaterials Conference (WBC). \u201cFrom molecular constants to cell responses: engineering ECM-like hydrogels\u201d\n2019 \u2013 European Society for Biomaterials (ESB). \u201cTuning viscoelastic hydrogels by mixing dynamic crosslinkers\u201d\n2019 \u2013 Brightlands Materials Center (BMC) Partner Event. \u201cModulating the Printability of Bioinks through Catalyzed Imine Crosslinking\u201d\n2018 \u2013 Chemistry as Innovating Science (CHAINS). \u201cModulating the Printability of Bioinks through Catalyzed Imine Crosslinking\u201d\n\nPatents\nWO2020070244 \/ EP4425752 \u2013 Hydrogels for organoid culture.\nPCT\/EP2024\/054400.4 \u2013 Synthetic hydrogels with pendent aldehydes and hydrogels thereof.\n\nCommunication, grants, awards, education and supervision\n\nGrants\nIn collaboration with three other colleagues, we received \u20ac10000 in 2020 from the Excalibur fonds (part of Universiteitsfonds Limburg\/SWOL) to develop an education application (\u201cCHEMERA\u201d) for learning organic chemistry through gamification.\nSuccessful \u20ac50000 Open Mind Grant by NWO in 2020 to work on conductive materials to improve the treatment of spinal cord injuries.\n\nAwards\n2022 \u2013 Best Oral Presentation at the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB) Conference\n2018 \u2013 Best Rapidfire Presentation, MERLN PhD Symposium\n\nEducation and supervision\n\nEducation\n2018\u20132024 \u2013 Organic chemistry\n2020 \u2013 Biomedical Engineering\n2018 \u2013 Introduction to chemistry\n\nSupervision\nMarta Redondo (2019) | Hydrogel-based bioinks for regenerative medicine\n\nOn fait la science avec des faits, comme on fait une maison avec des pierres : mais une accumulation de faits n'est pas plus une science qu'un tas de pierres n'est een maison.\n\u2014 Henri Poincar\u00e9\n\nBiography\n\nFrancis was born on the 24th December 1991 in London, but grew up in Whanganui, a small city on the west coast of the north island of New Zealand. The decision of what studies to pursue at university was difficult, as he was extremely curious about how things worked, leading to a strong focus on STEM, but he also enjoyed learning different languages and cultures. Ultimately, he pursued a bachelor\u2019s degree in biotechnology and chemistry at Victoria University of Wellington, later adding a minor in French and graduating in 2014. During this undergraduate period, Francis secured several summer research scholarships to explore different scientific fields, working on projects including altering the substrate profile of genetically modified proteins, the preparation of novel nanoparticles, and studying the photovoltaic properties of hybrid perovskite thin films.\n\nFrancis concluded his bachelor\u2019s degree with an exchange program to the Universit\u00e9 de La Rochelle in France, where he spent a year completing various science courses and learning the French language. Following this exchange, Francis chose to remain in France and pursued a Master\u2019s in Chemistry and Materials Science Engineering at the Universit\u00e9 de Lyon, with a specialization in biomaterials. His master\u2019s thesis investigated the formation of natural polyelectrolyte complexes as novel biomaterials.\n\nWhen looking for a PhD, Francis sought a project that combined synthetic organic chemistry, materials science, and biological applications. In 2018, he was fortunate to find the opportunity to begin such an interdisciplinary project under (now) Associate Professor Dr. Matthew B. Baker and Professor Lorenzo Moroni at the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine at Maastricht University. His doctoral work leveraged dynamic (reversible) covalent chemistry to engineer hydrogels with targeted mechanical behaviors and expanded the toolbox available for rationally engineering dynamic soft matter; this was achieved through a combination of fundamental studies, model development, and valorization by producing a novel bioink.\n\nFrancis began working as a post-doctoral researcher at MERLN in 2024 to valorize the biomaterials he had developed in different contexts and will move to Germany to begin a new post-doctoral research line focusing on the development of novel conductive hydrogels at the beginning of 2025. He hopes that this research will facilitate future work on the creation of implantable bioelectronic devices and soft interfaces between human physiology and programmable technologies.","auteur":"Francis Morgan","auteur_slug":"francis-morgan","publicatiedatum":"14 januari 2025","taal":"NL","url_flipbook":"https:\/\/ebook.proefschriftmaken.nl\/ebook\/francismorgan?iframe=true","url_download_pdf":"","url_epub":"","ordernummer":"FTP-202604011358","isbn":"978-94-6510-407-2","doi_nummer":"","naam_universiteit":"Universiteit Maastricht","afbeeldingen":6968,"naam_student:":"","binnenwerk":"","universiteit":"Universiteit Maastricht","cover":"","afwerking":"","cover_afwerking":"","design":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/us_portfolio\/6966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/us_portfolio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/us_portfolio"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6966"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/us_portfolio\/6966\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6969,"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/us_portfolio\/6966\/revisions\/6969"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"us_portfolio_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.proefschriftmaken.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/us_portfolio_category?post=6966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}