Wearable sensors for monitoring body temperature and heart rate, as well as flexible displays, rely on soft “polymer materials” that have significantly enhanced our lives. To achieve a “material revolution” enabling such advancements, this project focuses on fundamental technologies that seamlessly connect molecular synthesis techniques with device development.

Specifically, we are leveraging advanced molecular synthesis techniques to create a variety of soft materials such as conductive polymers, supramolecular substances, liquid crystal molecules, and complex molecules, exploring their unprecedented properties and functions. Through integration techniques and processes for film formation and device fabrication, we aim to develop materials with innovative functions such as high responsiveness, dynamic properties, ionic conductivity, and self-healing capabilities. This hierarchical control of materials expands the possibilities for soft materials in the future.

Soft materials have the potential to transform interactions between humans and robots, making them more natural and intuitive. For example, prosthetics covered with flexible electronic skin featuring tactile sensors can provide wearers with a lifelike sensation, as if the prosthetics were part of their bodies. Additionally, self-healing and highly durable materials enhance the reliability of interfaces requiring long-term stability, such as those found in vehicle components. This project not only focuses on functionality but also emphasizes enhancing quality of life by advancing applications in medicine and healthcare. For instance, flexible sensors capable of detecting subtle changes in skin can monitor emotions and biological information, aiding daily health management.

To drive these advancements, we are also developing new analytical technologies using artificial intelligence to reveal the fundamental properties of soft materials derived from complex structures.

Biological systems—cells, tissues, and blood—are highly complex, changing over time and space. When materials interact with these systems, phenomena occur across multiple layers, from cells to tissues and throughout the body. For example, molecular and ionic attractions lead to the adsorption of proteins onto material surfaces, followed by cell proliferation and eventual integration with biological tissues. NIMS focuses on the creation of ‘bioadaptive materials’ that enable advanced biological control at multiple layers. These materials actively utilize interactions between biological environments and materials to control biological functions. This project employs cutting-edge bioimaging technologies and data science to conduct complex analyses at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. The aim is to deepen the logical understanding of fundamental life phenomena, such as the influence of physical forces on cells and the process of bone remodeling, and to clarify the parameters that materials interacting with these phenomena should possess, paving the way for innovative bio-material designs.

For materials to interact with biologics as designed, precise fabrication techniques—such as polymer porosity, particle formation, surface modification, and integration with metals—are essential to program their functions and activation timing. Furthermore, medical polymer materials must be biocompatible, imposing strict design constraints. This project is optimizing materials fabrication techniques and exploring new synthesis methods to ensure that both raw materials and production methods are biologically safe. Additionally, a significant challenge in medical materials lies in the rigorous approval process required before clinical use. The research center is strengthening collaborations with medical institutions and pharmaceutical companies to develop efficient strategies that consider safety and efficacy testing. With a focus on achieving a well-being society, we are promoting materials development with clear goals such as biological sensors, wearable devices, drug delivery, and cell cultivation.