Biomaterials

Biomaterials constitute a specific group of materials with different composition and properties that are designed to interact with elements of living systems to influence therapeutic or diagnostic processes, as independent entities or in complex systems.

This term also relates to a field of science dealing with research on the preparation and characterisation of pharmacologically inert materials, their impact on cells, characterisation of material properties of tissues and organs as well as their regeneration and function improvement (tissue engineering). As part of the aforementioned research topics, the Group’s research work focuses on: i) development of new metallic, polymeric and composite biomaterials; ii) development of new production technology methods, i.e. 3D printing, 3D bioprinting or electrospinning; iii) design and fabrication of advanced implants used in regeneration and reconstruction of various tissues, i.e. cartilage, bone, nervous, muscular, or tendons; iv) development of local drugs, or other active substances, delivery systems; v) characterisation of the structure and properties of biomaterials and implants, including the use of advanced imaging techniques like micro- and nanotomography; vi) and computer modelling of new materials, tissues and tissue engineering related products. More information about the group can be found at www.bio.materials.pl.
 

Research activities

  • Tissue engineering
  • Synthesis of polymeric biomaterials
  • 3D printing of polymers and composites
  • 3D printing with selective laser melting technology
  • Bioprinting
  • Electrospinning from a solution
  • Advance imaging using computed micro- and nanotomography
  • Computer modelling in the field of biomaterials and their degradation processes
  • Drug delivery system
     

Research offer

  • 3D printing of polymers and composites materials:
    • optimisation of fabrication parameters,
    • development of printing models,
    • printing the designed elements.
  • 3D printing of metallic materials:
    • optimisation of fabrication parameters,
    • development of printing models,
    • printing the designed elements.
  • Fabrication of 3D structures and mats by solution electrospinning.
  • Characterisation of materials surface:
    • AFM measurements in air and liquid (including mechanical testing),
    • Contact angle and Surface Free Energy measurements.
  • Characterisation of materials’ thermal properties:
    • TGA, DSC, DMA measurements,
    • melt flow index measurements (mass and volume).
  • Characterisation of physio-chemical properties:
    • Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
    • Raman spectroscopy, Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC),
    • combined measurements of TGA-FTIR.
  • Biological evaluation:
    • cytotoxicity tests, cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation measurements,
    • cell imaging with fluorescence, confocal and electron microscopy.
  • Micro- and nano-computed tomography:
    • scans with 3D reconstruction,
    • analysis of porosity, filler distribution in composites,
    • in situ mechanical testing.
       

Projects

 

 

Research collaboration

National collaboration

  • Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute of Oncology, Warsaw
  • Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
  • Military University of Technology, Warsaw
  • Medical University of Warsaw
  • Wrocław University of Science and Technology
  • West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin
  • Poznan University of Technology
  • Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw

International collaboration

  • University of California, Los Angeles, United States
  • Oslo University Hospital, Norway
  • Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Germany
  • Queensland University of Technology, Australia
  • Tatung University, Taiwan
  • National Taiwan University, Taiwan
  • National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
  • BIOMATEN, METU, Ankara, Turkey
  • University of Pisa, Italy
     

Contact

Professor Wojciech Święszkowski
wojciech.swieszkowski@pw.edu.pl
+48 22 849 94 07
Division of Materials Design
www.bio.materials.pl