There is a range of materials being developed for use in medicine, prosthetic surgery and tissue engineering. Traditionally the tough 'biomaterials' developed for prosthetics uses have been quite different from the cell culture plastics used for tissue growth 'in vitro'. Increasingly, however, surface engineering is allowing us to adjust the properties of the materials used, so that tough biomaterials and delicate culture support media can express the same surface chemistry - if desired!
Above right: A surface patterned with two different chemical groups - methyl and carboxyl - visualised by lateral force microscopy (imaging technique based on atomic force microscopy).
Working with the Sheffield Polymer Centre gives access to a wide range of new synthetic materials whose properties can be tailored to carry out specific tasks within the body or in vitro. The range of materials includes biocompatible block copolymers, dendrimers and hyper-branched polymers.
Increasingly these 'biopolymers' are being designed to be 'smart', responding to changes in their environment. Currently scientists at Sheffield can synthesise materials that change their properties in response to changes in pH, temperature, salt, ions and light. Frequently polymer structures can be tuned to undergo sharp changes in properties under conditions close to those found in the body.
Current research programmes include work to develop new materials for:
tissue engineering - as scaffolds and surfaces
controlled or targeted drug release
materials for high efficiency protein separation
DNA transfection agents
anti-fouling coatings
Many of the materials being developed are 'hydrogels', polymers that are swollen with water and can resemble living tissues in their physical properties. The water content, water structure, phase morphology, polymer structure, biofunctionality and surface science ALL affect the biological performance of these materials in natural systems - which includes cells and the proteins and other materials they secrete.
Above right: A surface patterned with two different chemical groups - methyl and carboxyl - visualised by lateral force microscopy (imaging technique based on atomic force microscopy).
Working with the Sheffield Polymer Centre gives access to a wide range of new synthetic materials whose properties can be tailored to carry out specific tasks within the body or in vitro. The range of materials includes biocompatible block copolymers, dendrimers and hyper-branched polymers.
Increasingly these 'biopolymers' are being designed to be 'smart', responding to changes in their environment. Currently scientists at Sheffield can synthesise materials that change their properties in response to changes in pH, temperature, salt, ions and light. Frequently polymer structures can be tuned to undergo sharp changes in properties under conditions close to those found in the body.
Current research programmes include work to develop new materials for:
tissue engineering - as scaffolds and surfaces
controlled or targeted drug release
materials for high efficiency protein separation
DNA transfection agents
anti-fouling coatings
Many of the materials being developed are 'hydrogels', polymers that are swollen with water and can resemble living tissues in their physical properties. The water content, water structure, phase morphology, polymer structure, biofunctionality and surface science ALL affect the biological performance of these materials in natural systems - which includes cells and the proteins and other materials they secrete.
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