Fig. 1: AAO membranes: (A) Hexagonally ordered pores in top view, (B) Side view of vertical pore channelsProtein Adsorption on Meso- and Macroporous Ceramics
When porous ceramics are used in biomedical applications, such as cellular scaffolds or implant coatings, they are immediately coated with proteins from blood and other body fluids. To develop high performance bioceramics for regenerative medicine it is therefore crucial to understand the underlying principles of protein interaction with porous ceramics on different length scales. In this project we will study the adsorption characteristics of different proteins, which are involved in cell adhesion and blood coagulation, to porous ceramics like anodized aluminum oxide (AAO, see Fig. 1). AAO is biocompatible, chemically inert, highly porous and facilitates cell growth and various surface modifications. Based on our fundamental studies we will develop the next generation of composite biomaterials from porous bioceramics with tailored protein modification. With these porous composites we aim to specifically control cellular interactions and to improve bone repair.
Contact : Brüggemann,