Christian Schafmeister, Professor at Temple University, is interested in building molecules that can do what proteins can do but that can be designed by humans. It’s difficult to construct artificial proteins without something like an artificial ribosome, but Schafmeister’s lab has been developing cyclic molecules with functional groups that behave similar to proteins. These molecules can be assembled together into macromolecules that act as filters, catalysts, sensors, and therapeutics. He hopes to develop artificial catalysts that can cleave glucosapane bonds in the extracellular matrix of cells, reversing damage caused by sugar in the body.