Lead The combination of small angle X-ray scattering with microfluidics enables time dependent studies of self-assembly processes of biological materials as well as of nano- and microscale functional materials. Hintergrund The hierarchical self-organization of biomolecules in cells and tissues is one of the most fascinating phenomena in life science. Therefore, great efforts are devoted to understand the dynamics of the self-organization processes as well as to mimic these biological systems. Microfluidic techniques provide an opportunity to study the complexity of the hierarchical structural assembly and to generate models, which reproduce biological processes in vitro. The marriage of scanning small angle X-ray scattering and state of the art microfluidic technologies enables time dependent studies of hierarchical self-assembly of biological and bio-inspired materials on a molecular as well as on a mesoscopic scale. Das Ziel The funded X-ray instrument "Nanostar" from Bruker will facilitate us to develop a microfluidic-based platform for unique experiments on soft materials within the Chemistry Department at the University of Basel. This powerful new tool will be used to shed light on the dynamics of the hierarchical self-assembly of biological, supramolecular, and hybrid materials. Bedeutung This funded small angle X-Ray instrument will support the research at the emphasis of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Basel in the scope of "life- and nanoscience". The availability of the instrument is necessary to ensure the international competitiveness of the five research groups involved in the proposal. This instrument facilitate the applicants nano- and mesoscale studies on the self-assembly of biological, supramolecular, and hybrid materials. The newly developed microfluidic based small angle X-ray scattering platform allows for unique in-situ studies, which are not possible with conventional techniques.