Biomedical approaches for therapy are based on the delivery in the target place of drugs targeting a specific tissue or organ, or on the use of implants that substitute specific parts of the body, or stimulate specific functions. In all those aspects the design of the appropriate materials is crucial. The use of scaffolds, prosthesis and stimulators places restrictions that go further away than biocompatibility requisites. A knowledge of the interactions material-biological system at the material interface is crucial and involves a careful characterization of physicochemical parameters that range from surface charge and hydrophilicity to redox potential, surface, adhesion of proteins and knowledge of specific impedance and electrical and electrochemical parameters of the material and the material-interface assembly, as well as a study of the range of action. Materials that must remain long times in the system in vivo pose more restrictions that those that are eliminated rapidly.
Furthermore, biocompatible materials with sensing and monitoring capabilities are clearly a need for this new era of medicine. This new subline involves therefore, the two big subgroups of materials used in biomedical applications: those directly in contact with the biological system, with the immediate implications of cell-material interaction, and those prepared for ex-situ analysis and tracing of specific compounds, and diagnostic studies.
In this framework, the main activities developed within this sub-line can be grouped in the following themes:
- Development of intelligent biocompatible materials sensible or responsive to external stimuli: temperature, pressure, pH, radiation, electric and magnetic fields, that allow modulation of their action in the biological system
- Preparation of micro/-nanoparticulate materials (polymer nanoparticles, and their composites and hybrids, magnetic nanoparticles, micelles, nanoemulsions, nanosuspensions, vesicles, liposomes, dendrons, dendrimers, etc..) for the development of new drug delivery routes and efficient disease-detection systems
- Preparation of micro-/ nanostructured scaffolds with appropriate porous, biomechanical, and electrical/electrochemical properties for tissue engineering and growth
- Development of more sensitive and efficient material based detection systems (i.e. chemosensors, nanobiosensors) and targeting and
- Study of the interface material-biological system and its final implications in the designed application.
