Biointerface Engineering

Bio-Engineering represents the application of principles of engineering and natural sciences to tissues, cells, bioactive molecules, and biomaterials as well as fundamental research in the related technology fields.

Current research is centred around the cardiovascular system. Small diameter vascular prosthesis, a system to occlude the left atrial appendage and vein cuffs for the treatment of extreme venular dilation with subsequent valve insufficiency are projects of primary interest.
Among the many items under consideration there is the development of polymers which can be fused to blood vessels by application of laser light.
A very important approach is the endothelialization of luminal surfaces of polymer prostheses to render such a prosthesis hemocompatible.
A further approach is to create a biomimetic surface on the luminal prosthesis surface which can avoid thrombus growth.
According to the polarized profile of real blood vessels we want to generate blood vessel prostheses which allow non contact on the luminal (blood) surface and allow cell binding on the extraluminal surface so that relevant cells can bind to and pass the prosthesis wall or integrate the polymer prosthesis wall into adjacent tissues.