8.3.─────Materials for Healthcare

KMM-VIN has considerable expertise in the following fundamental areas where Materials Science and Engineering is contributing to the Biomedical field:

•  Improving established materials for medical devices, e.g. orthopedic and vascular implants, antibacterial coatings;
•  Developing new, multifunctional and bioactive materials for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery;
•  Applying biomimetic approaches for the innovative design of biomedical materials;
•  Driving forward the fundamental understanding and mastering the development of biomaterials through engineering science approaches, including theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches or combinations of them;

8.3.─────Materials

Materials

We offer a wide range of biomaterials including biopolymers, bioaceramics, bioactive glasses and their composites for traditional biomedical applications, e.g. implants, and for advanced applications in regenerative medicine and drug delivery.
We offer processing of biocompatible metals and alloys for medical devices:

  • Titanium and titanium alloys
  • CoCrMo alloys
  • stainless steels


We offer development and modification of biodegradable
implant materials:

  • bioresorbable polymers (PLLA, PDLA)
  • bioceramics (HA, ß-TCP)
  • polymer-ceramic composites


We also offer expertise in the field of electrophoretic deposition for the development of biomedical (bioactive) coatings on
metallic substrates, e.g. stainless steel Ti alloys and biodegradable metals, e.g. Mg alloys.

We have extensive expertise on the fabrication of 3D porous scaffolds for bone and soft tissue engineering applications and in functionalised scaffolds with incorporated drug delivery function.
Other research areas involve electrospinning and biofabrication methods for advanced tissue engineering scaffolds.
This includes a range of soft natural materials, e.g. alginate based hydrogels, for cell encapsulation.

8.3.─────Testing

Testing

KMM-VIN offers extensive analysis and testing services across a diverse range of biomaterials and biopolymers.
Basic material testing is available, including assessment of surface
wettability and contact angle measurements.

We offer the specific testing of biocompatibility of materials, including
acellular bioactivity and assessment of biocompatibility of biomaterials
by cell culture methods.

An important focus is the characterisation of the potential angiogenic effect of biomaterials to investigate their vascularisation effect in vivo. Investigations of degradation of materials in physiological relevant conditions.
We offer also the testing of cytotoxicity, static and dynamic biomechanical properties.

8.3.─────Modelling

Modelling

In the rapidly developing field of Biomaterials the modelling methods are playing an increasingly important role assisting the materials developers in designing new materials and predicting their behaviour in real applications conditions.
KMM-VIN network has expertise in:

  • Modelling of multifunctional materials in biodevices for improved diagnoses and therapy
  • Modelling of the interaction between medical devices and living organisms
  • Support in the computer-aided design of medical devices (as basis for further modeling tasks)


As examples of modeling techniques the following ones could be mentioned:

  • Multiscale homogenization schemes
  • Finite Element method
  • Finite Volume method
  • Multi-physics/chemistry modeling
  • Atomistic modelling


We can provide support for complete development process of medical devices, including implantable medical devices and biodevices for in vitro diagnostics, with applications in dentistry, orthopaedy, cardiovascular surgery, tisssue engineering and regenerative medicine, among other fields.

8.3.─────Trainings

Trainings

KMM-VIN offers professional trainings dedicated to various advanced biomaterials, e.g.:

  • Cell culture methods
  • Electric field assisted processing of materials, in particular
  • Electrophoretic deposition and electrospinning methods
  • Biofabrication including cell encapsulation in soft matter (hydrogels) and bioplotting techniques
  • Basic fabrication of porous materials (e.g. ceramics, bioactive glasses) by foam replica technique and sol-gel methods
  • Biomaterials, scaffolds for tissue engineering and bioactive coatings, materials for orthopedic implants
  • Microstructured auxetic materials
  • Colloidal processing
  • Tissue engineering: biomaterials
  • Cardiovascular systems


Read more about Trainings in Specialized Courses Booklet.