S14 – Functional Materials for Biological Applications

Functional biomaterials that actively communicate with the body by monitoring body functions, delivering drugs at a specific target, or by promoting tissue recovery are in high demand. Mechanical, electrical, and biochemical boundary conditions vary significantly depending on the location within the body or the diagnostic aim of a lab on chip device. As a result, biomaterials have to be tailored toward their specific boundary conditions. In addition, they have to remain reliably functional for the duration of their task, which can be up to several decades.

This symposium will provide an interdisciplinary forum to discuss demands and challenges in materials and device development for functional biomedical applications. Topics will span from advances in material synthesis and processing to specialized characterization techniques, as well as strategies necessary to bridge the gap from lab to clinic.

Proposed Sessions

• Synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of piezoelectric and other functional ceramic-based biomaterials
• Therapeutic, diagnostic, and biosensing applications
• Lab on a chip, BioMEMs
• Approaches for benchtop to clinic translation
• Emerging materials 

Symposium Organizers 

• Jennifer Andrew, University of Florida, USA, jandrew@mse.ufl.edu
• Julia Glaum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, julia.glaum@ntnu.no