Marina Pigaleva

Dr. Marina Pigaleva is a Junior Research Group Leader at the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, leading the group 'Macromolecular Interactions in Complex Environments'. She specializes in molecular spectroscopy, biomaterials synthesis, and high-pressure CO2 chemistry. Her work bridges fundamental research and applied 'green chemistry' solutions, focusing on hydrogels, drug delivery systems, and protein-polyelectrolyte interactions.

Education & Experience:

• PhD in Soft Matter and Biophysics, Lomonosov Moscow State University (2013–2015)
• Independent Project Leader at Lomonosov Moscow State University (2016–2022)
• Postdoctoral Researcher at Freie Universität Berlin (2023–2024)

Research Interests:

Her lab investigates mucus-like hydrogels using EPR spectroscopy to study sol-gel transitions and pathogen interactions. They also explore pepsin stability under high-pressure CO2 conditions and the impact of polyelectrolytes on protein structure. Key areas include:

• CO2-mediated synthesis of biocompatible materials (e.g., chitosan composites, bacterial cellulose)
• High-pressure applications in drug micronisation and nanoparticle functionalization
• Protein-GAG interactions and their role in biocondensates

Funding & Equipment:

• CRC 1449 (Dynamic Hydrogels at Biointerfaces)
• SupraFAB Seed Grant (Pepsin stability studies)
• IRTG 2662 (Charging into the Future)

Access to advanced equipment: CW X-band EPR, Nanotemper Prometheus Panta, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and high-pressure setups.

Labs focus on creating 'green' biocompatible materials and elucidating molecular mechanisms in complex environments.