Biomaterials and regenerative medicine

Strategic objectives

Development of new therapies and diagnostic processes in which biomaterials play a key role. This strategic objective is organised into five sub-objectives:

  • Applications of high-performance silk fibres. These biomaterials are applied to treat tendon and ligament injuries, as well as to generate axonal guides for the recovery of lesions in nerve connections.
  • Applications of silk hydrogels. Delayed hydrogels with encapsulated cells or in combination with drugs are used for the treatment of brain diseases and injuries, such as stroke.
  • Diagnostic applications of cell mechanics. Cell mechanical characterisation is used as a diagnostic procedure for a wide range of pathologies.
  • Applications of biofunctionalised biomaterials. Biofunctionalised biomaterials decrease the possibility of rejection and improve the body’s response to the implant.
  • Application of affinity atomic force microscopy. The identification of individual molecules is a powerful diagnostic technique to assess the effect of new drugs on different pathological conditions in cells and/or tissues.

Lines of research

  • Biomaterials based on silk fibroin. Silk proteins are used for the production of different formats of biomaterials: fibres, films, gels, meshes, etc. in combination with stem cells and biomolecules.
  • Cell mechanics and mechanobiology. The assessment of cell deformability by micropipette aspiration, atomic force microscopy and microfluidic methods allows characterisation of the physiological or pathological state of different cell lineages and is used as a diagnostic technique. The group is working on the analysis of the relationships between deformability, internal organisation and cell function.
  • Biofunctionalisation of biomaterials. Biomaterials are functionalised by activated steam silanisation, a patented technique that allows them to be covered with a biofunctional layer that modulates the organism’s response to the implant and enhances patient acceptance.
  • Atomic force microscopy of biological systems. Atomic force microscopy allows the characterisation of living systems from the molecular to the tissue scale, including the cellular scale. The use of specific detection probes allows the presence of individual biomolecules on the surface of cells to be characterised.

Other members of the group

  • José Miguel Atienza Riera
  • Rafael Daza García
  • Blanca De Los Reyes González Bermúdez
  • José Perez Rigueiro
  • Gustavo Ramón Plaza Baonza
  • Francisco Javier Rojo Pérez
  • Pablo Sarabia Ortiz
  • Mahdi Yonesi

Publications

Projects