Specialized iNANO lecture
- open to all
Professor Brian J. Meenan
Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC),
School of Engineering,
University of Ulster,
Irland
Title: Life at the Interface: Directing the Biological Response
to Biomaterials via Surface Engineering
Time:9 May 2011, at 15:00
Location:Building 1520-333 Physics Department
Abstract:Development of biomaterials that are capable of encouraging the restoration and/or repair of body tissue function in vivo is critical for improved medical implants. As such, an understanding of those factors that influence the quality of the interface created between a device/biomaterial and the biological system it comes into contact with is crucial.
It is known that the provision of specific surface cues on an implantable device/biomaterial can direct and control cellular processes that occur at the interface it makes with the host and that an appropriate combination of chemistry and topography is a key consideration with regard to subsequent formation of viable tissue. Both coating technologies and surface modification methods offer options for the functionalisation of biomaterial surfaces in a way that creates those surface features that are capable of eliciting a positive response when in contact with cells and other biological factors.
This lecture will consider how surface engineering approaches can be used to provide active chemistries and micro-, meso- and nano-scale surface features on both hard and soft biomaterials that can promote and support the types of cellular process required for tissue formation. In particular, the need to develop accessible, validated and cost-effective methods to facilitate such smart surfaces is addressed. The important role that effective surface analysis plays in confirming and quantifying the required chemical and topographical functionality is highlighted throughout. Exemplar studies from the authors past and current research activities will be used to show how targeted surface engineering can be used to guide the progression of cell response and how this might allow for translation to more effective implant performance.
Biography: - Brian J. Meenanis Professor Biomedical Materials at the University of Ulster and is Head of the Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Research Group (BTERG) within the Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC). He is Director of University of Ulster Hub of the EPSRC funded MATCH (Multidisciplinary Assessment of Technology Centre for Healthcare) Innovation Manufacturing Research Centre (IMRC) and Director of the Northern Ireland Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) funded Cross Border R&D Collaboration in Functional Biomaterials in partnership with the Network of Excellence in Functional Biomaterials (NFB) at the National University of Ireland, Galway.
He is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Chartered Chemist (FRSC CChem) and the Institution of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIOMMM). He is a founding member and Past President of the UK Society for Biomaterials (UKSB) and was awarded the President's Prize from UKSB in 2010. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Tissue Engineering, The Annals of Biomedical Engineering and Review in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. He will Co-Chair the 24th European Conference in Biomaterials (ESB2011), 4th-7th September 2011 in Dublin with Prof. Abhay Pandit, NUI Galway.