Symposium NN: Multifunctional Biomaterials

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Multifunctional Biomaterials

Research in the field of biomaterials for regenerative therapies is progressing rapidly. Biomaterials that can mimic natural tissue and can, e.g., provide, receive, and respond to signals from their environment, including interactions with synthetic molecules, biological species, and physical stimuli, are the key topic of fundamental, as well as translational, research. A recent development in this context is multifunctional biomaterials, which integrate multiple functions in one material. Multifunctional biomaterials can, e.g., be realized as hybrid structures (e.g., multilayer constructs) of several distinct material phases in which each phase contributes a different but necessary function. The multifunctional characteristics of such composite materials might be even enhanced by a hierarchical organization of the structural constituents at various length scales when the hybrid structures are used, e.g., for imaging applications or as nanotransporters.

The final goal for multifunctional biomaterials is full integration of all functions, even on the molecular level, into single-material systems. Such multifunctional materials could be enzymes, polymeric prodrugs, actively moving polymers (shape-memory effect and shape-changing capability), or polymers for imaging. Functions such as specific local interaction as required, e.g., in polymer drugs can be mimicked in multifunctional polymers by application of synthetic chemistry. Other added independent functions could cover signalling/sensing capability, biocompatibility and/or degradability, and self-healing capability. Multifunctional materials as single systems could also be obtained by the hierarchical organization of different reactive groups in different subunits, each responsible for a certain function, such as in dendritic polymers.

In this context the frontier design of multifunctional biomaterials covers aspects such as polymers with controlled biodegradation, multi-reactive points for further functional modification, special short range structures of polymer chains, hetero-polymerization of biomolecules, modified natural polymers as well as innovation in catalysis and polymerization or pharmaceutical technology.

Abstracts are solicited in (but not limited to) the following areas:

  • Multifunctional materials
  • Multicomponent complex material systems
  • Active/stimuli sensitive (nano)composites
  • Shape-memory polymers
  • Shape-changing polymers
  • Supramolecular polymers
  • Actively moving (bio)polymers (e.g., biological transporters)
  • Biomimetic and bionic concepts for active polymer systems
  • Responsive hydrogels
  • Liquid-crystalline elastomers
  • Dendrimers
  • Polymers for gene delivery
  • Photosensitive materials
  • Stimuli-sensitive polymers and gels
  • Artificial muscles
  • Polymers for imaging
  • Polymer-based actuators, sensors, and switches
  • Polymer drugs/prodrugs
  • Biomedical applications of active materials, especially for minimally invasive surgery and controlled drug release
  • Nanotransporter
  • Molecular modeling of multifunctional polymers
  • Active surfaces
  • Pharmaceutical technology
  • Smart nanocomposites

A joint session with Symposium PP: Adaptive Soft Matter through Molecular Networks is being considered.

Invited Speakers Include:

Jianjun Cheng (Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Avi Domb (The Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, Israel), Peter Dubruel (Univ. of Ghent, Belgium), Dirk Grijpma (Univ. of Twente, Netherlands), Zhibin Guan (Univ. of California, Irvine), Patrick Mather ( Univ. of Syracuse), Christopher Kemper Ober (Cornell Univ.), David  Putnam (Cornell Univ.), Zhigang Suo (Harvard Univ.), Yi-Yan Yang (Inst. of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore).

Symposium Organizers

Andreas Lendlein
Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht GmbH
Institute of Polymer Research
Kantstr. 55, D-14513 Teltow, Germany
Tel 49-3328-352-450, Fax 49-3328-352-452, andreas.lendlein@hzg.de

Mei Wei
University of Connecticut
Dept. of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Engineering
Unit 3136, 97 N. Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT 06269-0001
Tel 860-486-9253, Fax 860-486-4745, m.wei@ims.uconn.edu

Zhiyuan Zhong
Soochow University
College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, Rm. 909-3419
Ren-Ai Rd. 199, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu Province, China
Tel/Fax 86-512-65880098, zyzhong@suda.edu.cn

Thao Nguyen
The Johns Hopkins University
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
125 Latrobe Hall, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
Tel 410-516-4538, Fax 410-516-7254, vicky.nguyen@jhu.edu 

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