The Soft Matter group at Sapienza University is a leading center for the theoretical and computational study of systems defined by soft interactions and emergent collective phenomena. The group’s research focuses on the structural, thermodynamic, and dynamical properties of colloidal suspensions, polymers, and self-assembling systems, aiming to uncover the fundamental principles that govern organization at the mesoscopic scale.
A cornerstone of their activity involves self-assembly processes in systems where microscopic interactions are precisely tunable. In this field, the group has pioneered the study of patchy particles, model colloids with directional and limited valence, which serve as essential frameworks for understanding controlled self-assembly. These investigations offer critical insights into how specific interaction geometries can be leveraged to engineer target structures, bridging statistical physics with materials design.
A significant research line is dedicated to DNA nanotechnology, a powerful platform for programmable assembly. The group is at the forefront of modeling DNA-based systems where strands act as building blocks to create highly specific architectures. Their research elucidates how DNA-mediated interactions can be harnessed to design complex networks and clusters, investigating the critical roles of sequence design, binding selectivity, and thermodynamic control in guiding stable assembly pathways.
Closely integrated is the work on DNA hydrogels and equilibrium gels. Composed of multi-arm motifs like DNA nanostars, these systems exhibit reversible bonding and tunable valence, providing ideal realizations of network-forming liquids. The group has identified the conditions under which these gels form, exploring the interplay between limited valence and phase separation. Their findings show how DNA gels can achieve stable, homogeneous network structures, enabling the design of soft materials with tailored mechanical properties.
An innovative direction involves SAT-assembly, a framework that integrates computer science and combinatorial optimization into materials design. By mapping target assembly onto constraint satisfaction problems, the group uses Boolean satisfiability (SAT) to design interaction rules, such as selective patch binding, that ensure the formation of specific architectures while preventing competing structures. This inverse-design paradigm establishes a deep link between statistical physics, information theory, and computational complexity, offering a new perspective on functional emergence in self-assembling systems.
Beyond these themes, the group explores gelation phenomena across various colloidal and molecular systems, investigating both equilibrium and non-equilibrium paths to dynamical arrest. This includes research on percolation, the formation of spanning networks, and slow dynamics in systems with directional bonding. Using advanced simulations and theoretical modeling, the group contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the microscopic mechanisms of gel formation and the relationship between structure and dynamics.
The group’s interdisciplinary approach, integrating statistical physics, computational tools, and materials science, positions it at the international frontier of Soft Matter research. The work at Sapienza not only advances fundamental physics but also provides the rational basis for designing novel materials in the fields of DNA nanotechnology and colloidal self-assembly.
The group is currently composed of four professors (Cristiano De Michele, Lorenzo Rovigatti, John Russo, and Francesco Sciortino ), along with one researcher, three postdoctoral fellows, one PhD student, and several master’s students.