About Prof. Dr. Raphael Wittkowski‘s research
Prof. Dr. Raphael Wittkowski conducts research in the field of active soft matter – a new field at the interface between physics, chemistry, engineering, biology and medicine. At the core of his work are, in particular, microsystems with their own propulsion mechanism that are controlled using ultrasound, the objective being to identify new opportunities for applications in medicine and technology.
Active soft matter consists of a liquid or soft material with embedded active particles equipped with a propulsion mechanism. These particles extract energy from their surroundings and convert it into directional motion or forces, thus enabling novel effects. What makes active soft matter special is that, compared to conventional materials, it can manifest extraordinary properties. Raphael Wittkowski’s research has helped to transform concepts into genuine scientific issues that were long considered unimaginable – such as remote-controlled micro-submarines for targeted drug release or programmable materials that autonomously adapt to their environment.
The systems Professor Wittkowski researches – in particular sound-propelled microparticles, micromachines and microrobots – are relevant to visionary applications in medicine and technology. Acoustically propelled microsystems have key benefits: ultrasound propagates through tissue and other materials, the propulsion mechanism works in liquids and biological tissue and the activity can be modulated remotely by variation of the ultrasound intensity. A representative example of Professor Wittkowski’s research is the 2025 Nature publication “Ultrasound-driven programmable artificial muscles.” In this, together with colleagues, he developed artificial muscles that are supplied with energy by ultrasound and can be precisely controlled. In the future these systems could be used as sensitive soft grippers, as programmably deformable cardiac patches for assisting myocardial contraction or for the targeted delivery of drugs.
Professor Wittkowski’s group has also developed AcoDyn, the most powerful simulation software until now for sound-propelled microsystems, and has used it to perform the world’s most complex simulations of such systems. This enabled him to predict important properties of these systems, thus filling a gap in research. He has also developed a method for guiding a large number of acoustically propelled microparticles towards a specified target. With such advances, Professor Wittkowski laid a foundation for future medical applications of acoustically propelled microparticles, for example for transporting drugs to a specific target within the body with the aim of avoiding the disadvantages of systemic drug distribution. When active particles are used in patients in the future, this will make it possible to minimise undesirable side effects such as damage to healthy tissue or avoid unnecessarily high drug doses. One example is conventional chemotherapy, the side effects of which are primarily caused by the systemic distribution of the drugs in the body, which also harms healthy tissue.
“In this anniversary year the 2026 Alfried Krupp Prize honours Professor Raphael Wittkowski and his ambitious work in the nascent field of active soft matter. Raphael Wittkowski has discovered fundamental effects in active soft matter, has developed significant models and has advanced methods of statistical physics. Thanks to his research, utopian concepts which until now were more to be found in the vicinity of science fiction have found their way into the scientific realm, with the aim of establishing new and innovative applications in medicine and technology. The Krupp Foundation is highly pleased to support Raphael Wittkowski in the continuation of his work on the development of autonomous sound-propelled microsystems and programmable materials, and its transfer from theory to practical application.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dr. h.c. Ursula Gather, Chairwoman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees
