Events

Prof. William Bonfield, 'Biomaterials innovation and technology transfer'

Prof. William Bonfield
Prof. William Bonfield

Date: Wednesday 30 October 2013 15:00 - 16:00

Location: The People's Palace - PP1

"Biomaterials innovation and technology transfer"

Prof. William Bonfield, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge

"Advances in regenerative medicine are critically dependent on the innovation of second-generation biomaterials which are favourably bioactive ,rather than simply bioinert in a given in vivo situation, through control of the biological processes in adjacent tissues .For skeletal tissues, effective three – dimensional regeneration is enhanced by precursor scaffolds, which combine appropriate surface chemistry and topography with optimized interconnecting macro– and micro–porosity. Two examples are considered in which novel biomaterials scaffolds have been translated from laboratory concepts to clinical applications. First, the development of a silicon–substituted calcium phosphate, which enhances rapid and ordered bone remodelling as a bone graft substitute, and has achieved major clinical application for spinal fusion and other orthopaedic procedures. Second, the design of a controlled collagen–glycosaminoglycan–calcium phosphate system, which allows a generic approach to cartilage repair. These distinctive technologies have produced both benefits for patients and exceptional growth opportunities for the associated start-up companies (Bonfield 2011). It is concluded that such mimicking of biological structures provides a template for future tissue and organ regeneration."

Reference: Engineering business success, William Bonfield, Ingenia, 2011, 46, 19 – 24.

SEMS/IoB Seminar Series
Coffee/tea/biscuits provided after the seminar