Research group Regenerative Biomaterials
RESEARCH OVERVIEW
The Regenerative Biomaterials research group at Radboudumc creates novel biomaterial-based therapies for regeneration of hard tissues. Overall, our main aim is to decipher which physicochemical properties of biomaterials are able to trigger the natural self-healing capacity of hard tissues. Our design philosophy is highly translational and aimed at bridging the gap between basic and clinical sciences. To this end, experimental data are translated to pre-clinical (animal) and clinical (human) studies to benefit patients.
We strive to overcome major shortcomings of conventional biomaterials by smart design of biomaterials with improved biological, mechanical and handling performance. To this end, we synthesize a wide range of nano- and microstructured biomaterials including injectable, biodegradable and self-healing 3D hydrogels and cements, 2D barrier membranes and coatings, as well as organic or inorganic nanoparticles. These biomaterials are functionalized with various types of therapeutic biomolecules (e.g. antibacterial or anti-cancer drugs) and/or patient-derived cells (e.g. stem cells or immune cells) to tune their capacity to induce tissue regeneration for both healthy and diseased patients.
KEYWORDS: Biomaterials; bone regeneration; self-healing; cell-material interactions; nanoparticles; drug delivery; stem cells
