Events

Prof Abhay Pandit, Nature and host inspired biomaterials systems

Date: Wednesday 11 February 2015 15:00 - 16:00

Location: Clark-Kennedy Lecture Theatre, Innovation Centre, Whitechapel

Prof Abhay Pandit
Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials
National University of Ireland, Galway

Nature and host inspired biomaterials systems
Biomaterials are no longer considered innate structures and using functionalisation strategies to modulate a desired response whether it is a host or implant is currently an important focus in current research paradigms. Fundamentally, a thorough understanding the host response will enable to design proper functionalisation strategies. Using functionalisation strategies such as enzymatic and hyperbranched linking systems, we have been able to link biomolecules to different structural moieties. The programmed assembly of biomolecules into higher-order self-organized systems is central to innumerable biological processes and development of the next generation of functionalized scaffolds. Recent design efforts have utilized a bottom-up approach toward both understanding and engineering supramolecular protein assemblies. These include functionalisation of micro and nanoparticles with biomolecules that include designed peptide motifs, growth factors and a multitude of gene vector systems. Structural moieties have taken a variety of different forms such as nanofibers and nanoparticulate. In addition, nature itself has abundant structural complexity that can be harnessed for targeted clinical applications. This talk will elucidate some of these ongoing strategies in our laboratory.