About

Matthew L Becker is the Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Duke University. His research group, the Becker Laboratory for Functional Biomaterials, is a multidisciplinary organic chemistry and biomaterials group working at the interface of chemistry, engineering, and medicine. His team develops families of degradable polymers with highly tunable physical, structural, and biological properties, which are applied to unmet needs in flexible electronics, soft tissue repair, neural, orthopedic, and vascular tissue engineering. Becker's work also involves additive manufacturing and the development of custom inks that enable innovative solutions in women's health, trauma surgery, and drug delivery. His research aims to create materials that address critical challenges in biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Materials science
• Nanotechnology
• History
• Chemistry
• Electrical engineering
• Optoelectronics
• Organic chemistry
• Biomedical engineering
• Engineering
• Composite material

Selected publications

• Mitochondrial transfer from glia to neurons protects against peripheral neuropathy

  Nature · 2026-01-07 · 12 citations

  articleOpen access

  Primary sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) have long axons and a high demand for mitochondria, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in peripheral neuropathy after diabetes and chemotherapy1,2. However, the mechanisms by which primary sensory neurons maintain their mitochondrial supply remain unclear. Satellite glial cells (SGCs) in DRG encircle sensory neurons and regulate neuronal activity and pain3. Here we show that SGCs are capable of transferring mitochondria to DRG sensory neurons in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo by the formation of tunnelling nanotubes with SGC-derived myosin 10 (MYO10). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed tunnelling nanotube-like ultrastructures between SGCs and sensory neurons in mouse and human DRG. Blockade of mitochondrial transfer in naive mice leads to nerve degeneration and neuropathic pain. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing and in situ hybridization revealed that MYO10 is highly expressed in human SGCs. Furthermore, SGCs from DRG of people with diabetes exhibit reduced MYO10 expression and mitochondrial transfer to neurons. Adoptive transfer of human SGCs into the mouse DRG provides MYO10-dependent protection against peripheral neuropathy. This study uncovers a previously unrecognized role of peripheral glia and provides insights into small fibre neuropathy in diabetes, offering new therapeutic strategies for the management of neuropathic pain. Mitochondria that are transported from satellite glial cells in dorsal root ganglia to peripheral sensory neurons through tunneling nanotube-like structures provide protection against peripheral neuropathy.

  PublisherDOI

• All‐PEG‐Like Block Copolymers Self‐Assemble into Stealth Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery

  Advanced Science · 2026-01-18 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (POEGMA) is a stealth polymer that does not exhibit polyethylene glycol (PEG) antigenicity. Herein, we engineered self-assembling nanoparticles composed entirely of POEGMA by designing AB diblock copolymers with varying oligo(ethylene glycol) (EG) side chains. We found that a one-unit difference between di- and tri-ethylene glycol side chains is sufficient to induce amphiphilicity and enables temperature-triggered self-assembly above room temperature when the block length ratio is at least 0.25. To broaden the temperature stability window, we increased amphiphilicity by incorporating mono-ethylene glycol into the hydrophobic block via random copolymerization, yielding nanoparticles stable between 20°C-40°C. These POEGMA nanoparticles effectively encapsulate diverse hydrophobic drugs with high loading efficiency. Notably, POEGMA-encapsulated doxorubicin retained the drug's in vitro activity and exhibited enhanced in vivo efficacy compared to free doxorubicin due to improved pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, these nanoparticles demonstrated stealth behavior by evading recognition by anti-PEG antibodies. This study introduces a versatile, fully POEGMA-based platform for stealth drug delivery with tunable thermal responsiveness and high therapeutic potential.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Stereochemically‐Controlled Fluorinated Copolymers for Selectively Permeable Barrier Applications

  Advanced Functional Materials · 2026-01-27

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  ABSTRACT Selective oxygen permeability coupled with low water vapor transmission is essential for biomedical and packaging applications requiring controlled oxygen flux under humid conditions. However, most high‐performance barrier polymers depend on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), whose persistence and regulatory restrictions limit their long‐term applicability. We designed a series of stereocontrolled thiol‐yne‐based polyesters, including both fluorinated and non‐fluorinated variants, for selective oxygen permeability with considerable water barrier performance. Tailoring polymer crystallinity and morphology tuned both oxygen transport and mechanical properties. Fluorinated polymers demonstrated enhanced hydrophobicity and water resistance while maintaining oxygen diffusivity within a range relevant to oxygen‐sensing applications. Structure–property relationships were elucidated through small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, revealing semi‐crystalline domains influenced by fluorine content and dithiol chain length. Barrier performance was rigorously evaluated via water vapor transmission rate and dynamic vapor sorption, showing reduced water uptake with increasing dithiol monomer length and crystallinity. This work introduces a PFAS‐free alternative to conventional barrier materials and establishes a tunable materials platform with potential relevance for biomedical devices and packaging systems requiring controlled oxygen permeability.

  PublisherDOI

• Peptide concentration gradients and aligned microfiber topography synergize to speed and direct Schwann cell migration

  Acta Biomaterialia · 2026-02-27

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Conjugating precise concentrations of bioactive peptides on aligned topographies holds a promising application in directionally guiding Schwann cell migration, a significant step in peripheral nerve regeneration. To harness this behavior, we have developed aligned fiber scaffolds functionalized with variable concentration gradients of YIGSR, a laminin-derived peptide known to promote Schwann cell motility. Using thiol-ene click chemistries, we generated uniform and gradient patterns of YIGSR on the aligned fibers with spatial control over tethered peptide concentration during fabrication, yielding two uniform concentration scaffolds of 100 pmol/cm² and 420 pmol/cm² YIGSR, and three gradient profiles of slopes 7 pmol·(cm²·mm)⁻¹, 15 pmol·(cm²·mm)⁻¹, and 60 pmol·(cm²·mm)⁻¹. Schwann cell migration on scaffolds revealed that uniform YIGSR functionalization enhanced migration in a sex-specific and concentration-dependent manner. Female Schwann cells responded with greater migration on 100 pmol/cm² uniform YIGSR-functionalized fibers while male Schwann cell migration was enhanced on fibers with both 100 and 420 pmol/cm² compared to non-functionalized fibers. However, guidance of cell migration can not be achieved with increasing cell speed alone. Therefore, gradients were fabricated directly on the fiber scaffolds and quantified. While shallow YIGSR gradients (7 and 15 pmol·(cm²·mm)⁻¹) did not consistently bias Schwann cell directionality in the direction of the gradient, 60 pmol·(cm²·mm)⁻¹ gradient profiles induced a haptotactic response, measured by directional velocity and haptotactic index, with both sexes migrating toward regions of higher peptide concentration. Thus, along with contact guidance effects provided by aligned fibers, precisely-defined peptide-functionalized gradients can be used to further bias Schwann cell migration for nerve regenerative applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Peripheral nerve injuries often result in incomplete recovery, partly because cells crucial for repair cannot efficiently move into injury sites. While researchers have developed aligned fibers that act as a pathway for the cells into the injury site, cells are free to move in any direction along the path, reducing their ability to support repair. This study demonstrates that by combining aligned fibers with bound chemical gradients to act as guard rails, cells move preferentially in one direction along the pathway. By precisely controlling both the fibers' physical alignment and chemical gradients, we achieved unidirectional cell migration. This dual-cue approach represents a significant advancement in biomaterial design for nerve repair, offering a promising strategy to enhance regeneration across nerve defects.

  PublisherDOI

• Synthesis of Cationic Cyclic Oligo(disulfide)s via Cyclo-Depolymerization: A Redox-Responsive and Potent Antibacterial Reagent

  Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2025-02-13 · 17 citations

  articleCorresponding

  Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and synthetic topologically defined peptide mimics have been developed as alternatives to traditional small-molecule antibiotics. AMP mimetics arising from linear polymers used widely in preclinical studies have shown promise but have limited stability. Oligomers possessing cyclic topology have been proposed to have increased stability but remain understudied due to synthetic challenges and concerns over cytotoxicity. Herein, we present an efficient approach to prepare cationic, cyclic oligo(disulfide)s (CCOs) from lipoic acid derivatives. The CCOs are obtained in a one-pot cascade reaction of ring-opening polymerization preceding an in situ cyclo-depolymerization. CCOs are effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, exhibiting a 5.43-log reduction in 5 min against Escherichia coli. They did not induce antimicrobial resistance during 24 successive passages in vitro. The cytotoxicity of CCOs is reduced by exploiting glutathione-triggered degradation. Further, fine-tuning of the cationic-to-hydrophilic ratio in CCOs has yielded improved stability in serum and a high selective index (HC50/MIC > 1280) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In an infected wound rodent model, CCOs have shown substantial antibacterial potency against S. aureus, underscoring their therapeutic potential as a new class of antimicrobial agents.

  PublisherDOI

• Resorbable 3D‐Printed Osteosynthetic Plates for Rib Fracture Repair

  Advanced Healthcare Materials · 2025-05-19 · 2 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  Rib fractures are common among blunt chest trauma patients and are a hallmark of severe thoracic injury with high morbidity and mortality rates. The standard treatment of most rib fracture cases is limited to pain control and respiratory support, with the surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) using titanium plates reserved for severely injured patients. Although SSRF has been shown to improve long-term patient outcomes, its expanded use has been limited by the invasiveness of the procedure and a lack of safe and effective resorbable fixation materials. While resorbable metal and polymeric plates have each been used in the clinic, many failures have been reported and challenges remain to control the mechanical properties of the plate during the degradation process. The 3D printing of resorbable, fumarate-based copolyester-hydroxyapatite (HAp) composite osteosynthetic plates for use in SSRF is presented, and assess their efficacy in vivo in a rabbit rib fracture model. Compared to rigid titanium fixation plates, ribs fixed with 3D printed composite plates elicit fracture calluses with decreased inflammatory response, enhanced osseointegration, and bone morphometry at 2- and 4-weeks post-fracture comparable to clinically used titanium plates.

  PublisherDOI

• Polysialic Acid-Functionalized MAP Scaffolds Promote Regulatory Immune Responses After Ischemic Stroke

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-09-16 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Glycosylation regulates immune and neural functions within the central nervous system (CNS), yet biomaterials rarely leverage glycans due to their structural complexity. Polysialic acid (PSA), comprising α2,8-linked sialic acid residues, is a promising candidate owing to its potent immunomodulatory interactions with inhibitory Siglec receptors. Systematic screening of multiple sialic acid derivatives identifies PSA as uniquely effective in inducing anti-inflammatory polarization of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Based on these findings, an injectable microporous annealed particle (MAP) scaffold presenting PSA covalently via its reducing end (MAP-PSA) is engineered, recapitulating physiological glycan orientation. MAP-PSA exhibits robust mechanical properties, stable glycan immobilization, and resistance to enzymatic degradation. Using ischemic stroke as a CNS injury model, MAP-PSA significantly reduces neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory activation while enhancing reparative macrophage and microglial phenotypes. These immunomodulatory effects persist into subacute stages, characterized by sustained reductions in inflammation and enhanced microglial homeostasis. Overall, MAP-PSA scaffolds demonstrate a novel therapeutic paradigm for CNS injuries such as stroke, with translational potential for broader neuroinflammatory and regenerative applications.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Injectable, Solvent Free Strontium Carbonate Poly(Allyl Glycidyl Ether Succinate) Composite Networks for Vertebral Augmentation

  Advanced Healthcare Materials · 2025-06-18 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Vertebral body compression fractures are a major cause of chronic back pain, particularly in older adults. Augmentation is currently performed by injecting a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) slurry of polymer, monomer, and initiator mixed with barium sulfate (BaSO 4 ) into the vertebrae, which then polymerizes in vivo. Herein, a solvent‐free polymer system using poly(allyl glycidyl ether succinate) (PAGES) is developed for vertebral augmentation. PAGES crosslinks in situ through thiol‐ene click chemistry with a cure time at 37 °C ranging from 17 to 53 min based on degree of polymerization and crosslinker concentration. The addition of SrCO 3 increased the ultimate compressive strength (σ max ) of the PAGES composite to 4.4 ± 0.4 MPa. Furthermore, SrCO 3 increases osteoblast proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells seeded onto the surface of PAGES composite. Finally, the compressive strength of fractured vertebrae is increased in an ex vivo surrogate rabbit model when filled with injected PAGES composite, demonstrating its potential as a bone augmentation material.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• An acoustofluidic embedding platform for rapid multiphase microparticle injection

  Nature Communications · 2025-05-03 · 11 citations

  articleOpen access

  Droplet manipulation technologies play a critical role in many aspects of biochemical research, including in complex reaction assays useful for drug delivery, for building artificial cells, and in synthetic biology. While advancements have been made in manipulating liquid droplets, the capability to freely and dynamically manipulate solid objects across aqueous and oil phases remains unexplored. Here, we develop an acoustofluidic frequency-associated microsphere embedding platform, which enables microscale rapid injection of microparticles from a fluorinated oil into aqueous droplets. By observing different embedding mechanisms at low and high acoustic frequencies, we establish a theoretical model and practical principles for cross-phase manipulations. The proposed system not only enables multi-phase manipulation but also provides contactless control of specific microparticles within various distinctive phases. We demonstrate the acoustic-driven embedding and subsequent on-demand disassembly of hydrogel microspheres. This system indicates potential for reagent delivery and molecule capture applications. It enhances existing droplet manipulation technologies by enabling both multi-phase and cross-phase operations, paving the way for solid-liquid interaction studies in artificial cell research. The capability for intricate multi-phase loading, transport, and reactions offers promising implications for various fields, including in-droplet biochemical assays, drug delivery, and synthetic biology. Cross-phase manipulation holds potential for applications in synthetic biology and drug delivery. Here, authors present an acoustofluidic platform that enables rapid embedding of microparticles from an oil phase into aqueous droplets, offering an effective tool for studying cellular multiphase interactions and related phenomena.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Correction to “Synthesis of Cationic Cyclic Oligo(disulfide)s via Cyclo-Depolymerization: A Redox-Responsive and Potent Antibacterial Reagent”

  Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2025-04-09 · 5 citations

  erratum
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• MRI: ACQUISITION OF AN IMAGING SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE SPECTROMETER FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE ADSORBING SPECIES

  NSF · $300k · 2011–2013

• Surface-Directed Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Orthogonal Peptide Concentration Gradient Surfaces

  NSF · $420k · 2011–2014

• NIH Grant R15GM113155

  NIH · $373k · 2018

• Peptide Derivatized Poly(ester urea)s for Regenerative Medicine

  NSF · $400k · 2015–2020

• NSF/FDA SIR: Designing for Degradation: A framework for Predicting in vivo Degradation and Mechanical Property Changes in Degradable Polymers

  NSF · $100k · 2021–2022

Frequent coauthors

• Joachim Kohn

  29 shared

• Jukuan Zheng

  Imperial College London

  29 shared

• Jiayi Yu

  South China Agricultural University

  25 shared

• Chrys Wesdemiotis

  University of Akron

  22 shared

• Khaled A. Aamer

  22 shared

• Fei Lin

  20 shared

• Yen‐Hao Hsu

  Duke University

  20 shared

• Laura A. Smith Callahan

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  18 shared

Labs

• M.L. Becker Research GroupPI

  for Functional Biomaterials

Awards & honors

• Fellow (NAI). National Academy of Inventors. 2022
• Fellow. American Chemical Society. 2020
• Carl S. Marvel Award in Creative Polymer Chemistry. Polymer…
• Fellow. American Institute of Medical and Biomedical Enginee…
• Fellow. Royal Society of Chemistry. 2017