Materials for biomedical applications and tissue engineering

The research group on "Materials for biomedical applications and tissue engineering" has considerable experience in the design, development and study of materials, mainly polymers and composite, intended for applications in the biomedical sector. Many studies have also been aimed at the realization of hybrid materials obtained by chemical grafting polymers and hydrogels on a wide range of materials such as metals, ceramics, glasses and other polymers with the aim of improving their resistance and durability but above all to impart new characteristics and / or functionality to the final product such as wettability, hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, haemocompatibility, specific sensitivity to biomolecules. More specifically, the research topics concern: • Development of rigid polymeric systems with high porosity for the realization of resorbable scaffolds. Innovative polymeric, composite and hybrid systems characterized by high porosity, biocompatibility and biodegradability have been realized. In relation to the specific requirements, properties such as stiffness, flexibility, resistance, porosity, resistance to degradation and hydrophilicity can be modulated and optimized with the aim of replicating the properties of natural fabrics and obtaining supports capable of temporarily replacing them and promoting in time the repair/regeneration of these damaged tissues. Hybrid scaffolds in particular, engineered with human mesenchymal cells, have shown a marked propensity for osteogenic differentiation and a study is underway for their validation in clinical applications. These materials can also be processed with commonly used technologies for polymeric materials and with 3D printing. • Development of polymeric hydrogels (soft hydrogels for the realization of absorbable scaffolds). Hydrogels are polymers capable of absorbing significant quantities of water without dissolving, while maintaining a defined three-dimensional structure. The group has many years of experience in the synthesis of polymeric hydrogels, in particular hydrogels sensitive to environmental stimuli (temperature, pH, humidity, etc.), superabsorbent hydrogels and hydrogels with superior mechanical properties compared to traditional synthetic hydrogels. Biocompatible and bioabsorbable hydrogels have also been studied as scaffolds to be employed in tissue engineering especially for the regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue. • Shape memory polymers for smart biomedical devices. The group has experience in characterizing the shape memory response of polymeric materials and in identifying guidelines for optimizing their response. For the purpose of pre-industrial research, the group also carried out feasibility studies for the construction and characterization of various devices, such as stents in polymeric material; guides for orthodontics; devices for drug delivery in intravesical and intragastric devices. The group is also part of an international network on 4D printing. • Characterization of sensors with polymeric substrate for the realization of biomedical devices. Support to the mechanical characterization of stress/strain sensors on polymeric substrates, with potential applications in the fields of rehabilitation (gloves for upper limb rehabilitation; intraoral devices for tongue rehabilitation). • Design of devices for the biomedical field. The use of polymeric materials (polymers / rubbers) for the realization of products requires the development of adequate design procedures in order to obtain highly performing products, free of defects and with reduced tolerances.