Biofunctional and not harmful to humans
Biomaterials often serve the temporary or permanent substitution of organs, organ parts or body structures. They are characterized by substance, in particular chemical and physical, properties, which show both functional similarity to structures produced naturally in the body, and an adequate biological compatibility. Biomaterials should show these properties for the complete retention time in or on the body, however at least a sufficiently long period of time until a possible substitute is found.
In this connection, the structural protein collagen provides the best preconditions. And this is what we are familiar with. For many years research has been made at our institute for collagen to be used as medical product: wound dressings, suture material, growth scaffolds, vascular system, soft tissue implants, to name only a few.
Synthetic materials are coated with the biopolymer collagen to increase their biocompatibility. Such hybrid materials promise an improved compatibility for humans. The development of cell colonisation concepts and the proof of bioactivity are also research topics at our institute.
In this section the following tests are frequently searched:
