Overview of Research

The development of new and improved biomaterials is critical for the provision of the next generation of medical devices and therapies. Such devices are specifically designed to encourage and enhance the restoration and/or repair of body tissue function in vivo. As such, control of the interface between a material/device and the biological system it comes into contact with is crucial. The Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Research Group at NIBEC are undertaking research directed toward the development of enhanced biomaterials for medical device applications with particular emphasis on promoting constructive interactions on the sub-micron to nanometre scale for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

The concepts of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, where specific cell types are harvested, expanded in culture and subsequently transplanted into a human host as a means of replacing damaged or diseased tissues or organs, offers tremendous potential for improved healthcare. However, the effective delivery of viable products and therapies to the patient is dependent on how the various cell types can be encouraged to form functional tissue either directly or via interaction with a 3-D biomaterial scaffold.

Much research effort has been directed towards understanding and controlling the basic science required for the successful manipulation of cellular processes. These processes must deliver the correct combination of growth factors and other biomolecules and also induce the appropriate dynamic (bioreactor) environment. The ability to reproducibly manipulate chemical, physical and structural features in and on the surfaces of biomaterials and devices at the sub-micron to nano-scale provides real potential for advances in this regard, and is therefore a major focus of the group’s activity.

Extensive R&D effort is being directed at the following key areas:

• Deposition and manipulation of high performance bioactive coatings for the enhancement tissue/implant interactions;
• Modification of biopolymer surfaces by atmospheric pressure plasma processes;
• Determination of the role of nano-scale properties in the delivery of targeted cell/protein surface interactions;
• Control and medication of cell-surface interactions in a dynamic bioreactor environment.

An important strength of the group is the availability of extensive expertise in the use of state-of-the-art surface analysis techniques (XPS, AES, ToF-SIMS, SEM/EDX, XRD, FTIR, Raman, AFM, Optical and Stylus profiling, etc.) to advanced biomaterials research. In addition, the determination of the bio-functionality of such materials is facilitated by the availability of dedicated in-house cell culture facilities.

Key Projects

Physical coating technologies such as sputter deposition, and surface modification methods such as dielectric barrier discharge, offer an extensive range of options for the functionalisation of biomaterial surfaces. In this regard, the group has extensive facilities to manipulate and control the properties of the bio-interface and to the identify and study the subsequent cellular response in vitro.

Nano-featured surfaces with controlled pit/pore density, size, shape, depth, distribution and chemical activity are being developed for use in bioactive cell culture and bioreactor matrices (2-D and 3-D). Such surfaces can also be used for nano-sensor and micro-electrode (below diffusion layer thickness) applications.

Nanometer scale structure-forming systems in biology are inherently self-organising, and exhibit highly selective molecular recognition properties. Hence, exploration of the biomolecular mechanisms involved in control of the size, distribution, and assembly of interesting and functionally applicable inorganic nanostructures is being carried out that offers direct applications in tissue engineering, sensors and coatings.

Advanced polymer systems are used extensively in medical devices and their associated packaging. In this regard, studies are in progress to assess catheter shelf life, radiation degradation of polymers, and properties of high temperature polymer nano-composites.

Collaboration

R&D work in plasma-based thin film deposition and surface modification of biomaterials and medical devices is being carried out in collaboration with a number of international partners in Europe, the USA and Asia. Many projects also involve collaboration with colleagues in the appropriate clinical sectors.The group is always open to undertaking discussions regarding mutually beneficial collaboration.

Industrial Partners

Several recent projects have been supported by input from industrial partners, including: Unilever Research UK and Medtronic Ireland.

For further information please contact the Group Leader: Professor Brian Meenan

E:bj.meenan@ulster.ac.uk

T: +44 (0) 28 9036 8939