University Of Ulster

NIBEC - Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre

Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

The main focus is to direct and control early-stage bioprocesses at the material-tissue interface via surface engineering strategies. Specifically, effects at the nano-scale (≤100 nm) that can interact with biological systems at the sub-cellular molecular level are being investigated for use in tandem with well-defined microstructural features.

In this regard, an important strength of the group is expertise in state-of-the-art surface analysis techniques (XPS, ToF-SIMS, AFM, etc.) as applied to biomaterials research.

Direct assessment of the bio-functionality is facilitated via dedicated in-house cell culture facilities. The group has had a significant increase in international outreach with active collaborative interactions in Denmark, Italy, India, China, Cuba and the US. Significant industrial support for research (grant and/or consultancy) has been obtained from Unilever, Medtronic, Boston Scientific and EnBIO.

Core funded projects include: the use of RF sputter-deposited hydroxyapatite bioceramic coatings to provide bioactive cues that promote important cellular responses in vivo, thin film processing of advanced ceramics, regulation of oral protein interactions on calcium phosphate surfaces for dental applications, surface modification of biopolymers via atmospheric dielectric barrier (DBD) plasma processing (COLAPE) and the real time characterisation of cells in a dynamic cell-culture/bioreactor environment via the EPSRC Grand Challenge REMEDI Project, in collaboration with the universities of Loughborough, Nottingham, Cambridge, Birmingham and Liverpool. The group is a core partner (with Brunel, Nottingham and Birmingham universities) in the EPSRC-MATCH Innovative.