Biomaterials
Image: Undergraduate MEng Biomedical Materials Science Student Jimmy Wan for the School of Materials Photography Competion 2009
The subject of biomaterials covers those materials that are used in the context of biology and medicine, generally to evaluate, treat, augment or replace any tissue, organ or function of the body.
In surgery, a biomaterial may be a synthetic material used to replace part of a living system or to function in intimate contact with living tissue.
Other examples of biomaterials are small particles that are used for the delivery of drug molecules to target sites within the body. A number of biomaterials are produced using chemical, physical, mechanical processes that employ or mimic biological phenomena.
Member of our group are key investigators at the UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration within the University's Faculty of Life Sciences. The facility will allow scientists to develop and manufacture quality controlled biomaterials under aseptic conditions for pre-clinical testing ultimately translating research innovation into clinical products for commercialisation.
Image: Min6 cell on collagen coated coverslip
Taken using an a fluorescence microscope.
Research themes
- Self assembled gels
- Nanofibrous materials
- Bioactive glasses
- Polymer hydrogels
- Glycobiology
- Enzyme Responsive Materials
- Ink Jet Printing
- Electrospinning
- Stem Cell Biology
Facilities
The Group has state of the art facilities such as cell culture facilities (including a dedicated stem cell culture suite), fluorescence and confocal microscopy, fluorescence and colourimetric plate readers, PCR, western blotting, HPLC, surface modification and analysis (including contact angle goniometer), atomic force microscopy, dip-pen nanolithography, nano-indentor, electrospinning, ink jet printing.
UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration
Member of our group are key investigators at the UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration within the University's Faculty of Life Sciences. The facility will allow scientists to develop and manufacture quality controlled biomaterials under aseptic conditions for pre-clinical testing ultimately translating research innovation into clinical products for commercialisation.
As the field of regenerative medicine is highly multidisciplinary, collaboration between the new centre, business initiatives and existing research groups in different faculties is an integral part of the work of the UKCTR. Researchers are drawn from specialist areas such as material science, engineering, biology, chemistry and medicine. They have targeted tissue types such as blood vessels, nerves, intervertebral disc and cartilage.
Clinical applications
The clinical applications of our research impact many areas of medicine, including drug delivery, cancer, nerve, tendon, cartilage, bone, muscle, wound healing, intevertebral disc, skin, ligament, cornea, and stem cells.
Sponsors
The Biomaterials Group has strong ties with industry, having ongoing collaboration with Smith & Nephew, Johnson & Johnson, and Versamatrix A/S (Denmark).