Explaining Your Research in Under 3 Minutes

Ana Maria Porras

Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States

Abstract

The inability to clearly and efficiently explain the motivation and goals behind research projects

is one of the main barriers to effective science communication in any context. In this workshop,

participants will learn how to distill their research to the essentials and engage an audience

quickly and efficiently. By the end, they will be able to describe their research in under 3

minutes. We will integrate presentations, individual activities and group activities to present

basic information, foster self-reflection, and encourage interactive community-based learning.

First, a short presentation will explain the basic structure and features of a 3-minute pitch. Then,

attendees will be given time to reflect on their research and prepare their own 3-minute pitches.

After that, participants will divide into groups of 3-5 people and each member of the group will

practice their pitch. The group will then provide feedback to all participants and select the best

pitch. The group will then help the selected representative refine that pitch to compete against

other groups in the workshop. All participants and hosts will vote for the overall best pitch.

Biography

Dr. Ana Maria Porras is a biomedical engineer and

Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University. Her

research interests encompass a wide variety of topics

including biomaterials, tissue engineering, cardiovascular

disease, and the human microbiome. Her current research

lies at the intersection of the gut microbiome and infectious

disease in a global health context. Dr. Ana is also an

AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador and the Co-Director of

Communications at Clubes de Ciencia Colombia. She also

runs a science communication initiative in both English

and Spanish on social media. You can find her as

@AnaMaPorras and @anaerobias, where she teaches

microbiology using crocheted microbes designed by herself. Dr. Porras holds BS and MS/PhD

degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of

Wisconsin-Madison, respectively. In her free time, she loves to travel, bake, swim, dance, read,

and, above all, eat ice cream.

Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas in Medicine

Abraham Lin

Plasma, Laser Ablation, and Surface Modelling- Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological

Research (CORE); Postdoctoral Fellow; University of Antwerp, Antwerp-Wilrijk, Belgium

Abstract

Atmospheric pressure plasmas are partially ionized gases that can be generated at ambient pressure

and room temperature. In the past decade, the use of these plasmas in the biomedical field have

flourished with applications ranging from wound healing to cancer therapy. Due to the vast clinical

potential of this highly interdisciplinary field of ‘plasma medicine’, a fundamental mechanistic

understanding of plasma-cell interaction is required to fully (and safely) utilize plasma for its

medical benefits.

In this talk, I will cover the main concepts on the link between plasma physics, oxidation-reduction

(redox) chemistry, and biological effects. Substantial evidence indicates that plasma-generated

reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are the main effectors of biological response via

stimulation of intracellular oxidative stress. The consequence of oxidative stress depends on

several factors, including the amount and localization of the accumulated RONS. Interestingly,

while high levels of oxidative stress can result in toxic effects, low levels can promote cell

stimulatory and tissue regenerative effects. This biphasic ‘dose’ response to an agent is a

phenomena known as hormesis.

Based on this principle, I will report on the development and progress of atmospheric pressure

plasmas in several medical applications and the challenges moving forward towards the clinic.

Biography

Dr. Abraham Lin’s research aims to characterize and

develop atmospheric pressure plasma systems for bio-

medical applications. His experience includes developing

applications for regenerative medicine, neural engineering,

and peripheral vascular disease. Currently, his foremost

interest is in cancer immunotherapy. His core research areas

are :1) studying plasma-induced cell death mechanisms, 2)

investigating plasma effects on the tumor micro-

environment, and 3) designing effective combination cancer

treatment strategies with plasma. Due to the multi-

disciplinary nature of his research, Dr. Lin collaborates with

a vast interuniversity team of researchers which include

plasma physicists, chemists, biomedical engineers, data scientists, tumor biologists,

immunologists, and clinicians. He is currently mentoring two PhD students and one MSc student,

and his research is supported by the Flanders Research Foundation.

Enhancing antibacterial effects of bioactive glasses by phytotherapeutic

agents

Aldo R. Boccaccini

Institute of Biomaterials, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany

Abstract

Bioactive glasses (BGs) are promising biomaterials for a variety of medical applications,

including bone filling granules, small bone implants, dental and orthopedic coatings as well as

scaffolds for soft and hard tissue engineering. An extra functionality of BGs, especially

considering their ability to release biologically active ions in a controlled manner, is their

antibacterial effect. The combination of BGs with other biomaterials, such as polymers and

natural biological agents, is being increasingly investigated to provide additional antibacterial

behavior in antibiotic free strategies. In this presentation, a series of novel BG-based scaffolds

coated with natural polymers loaded with phytotherapeutic molecules will be discussed. The

combination of a series of antibacterial agents, including icariin, curcumin, daidzein, propolis,

lawsone, manuka honey, with BGs will be presented demonstrating the positive effect of the dual

release of biologically active ions and plant derived biomolecules in terms on antibacterial

properties, considering both gram positive and negative bacteria. Synergistic effects of

antibacterial ions released from BGs (e.g. Ag, Cu, Zn) and the applied phytotherapeutic agents

will be discussed, which should lead to future strategies involving the design of BG-

phytotherapeutic combinations exhibiting a reduction of the concentration of both components

below possible toxic level by keeping antibacterial effects.

Biography

Aldo R. Boccaccini is Professor of Biomaterials and Head

of the Institute of Biomaterials at University of Erlangen-

Nuremberg, Germany. He is also Visiting Professor at

Imperial College London. His research activities are in the

broad area of glasses, ceramics and composites for

biomedical applications. He has co-authored more than 850

scientific papers. His work has been cited more than 36,000

times (Scopus®). Boccaccini is Fellow of the Institute of

Materials, Minerals and Mining, American Ceramic

Society, Society of Glass Technology and European

Ceramic Society. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal

“Materials Letters” and founding Editor of “Biomedical

Glasses”. He has received numerous international awards, including the Materials Science Prize

of German Materials Society and Turner Award of International Commission on Glass. He is also

a member of the World Academy of Ceramics, National Academy of Engineering and Applied

Sciences of Germany and advisor to the Science and Technology Ministry of Argentina.

Boccaccini serves in the Executive Committee of the Federation of European Materials Societies

and in the Council of the European Society for Biomaterials.

Silk in Medicine

Anh Hoang

Chief Science Officer, Sofregen Medical Inc.

Abstract

Silk’s application in medicine is embedded in history. The Greek surgeon, Galen of Pergamon,

notes that he used silk to suture together gladiators' severed tendons around 170AD. But it

wasn’t until 1000 years after Galen that the first mass-produced, sterile silk sutures were

invented (J&J, 1887). And since, silk sutures have become the representative for silk protein and

silk engineering in the medical community. In recent decades, reconstituted liquid silk has

surfaced from academic research as the next generation biomaterial that couples both superior

biocompatibility and engineering controllability. New emerging companies have been created to

use reconstituted silk for the next generation of products in medical aesthetics, organ repair, drug

delivery, and orthopedics.

Sofregen Medical Inc. leverages silk protein for soft tissue volume restoration. It received the

first FDA clearance for Silk Voice- a product comprised of porous silk particles to be injected

into a patient’s vocal fold to restore tissue volume, enabling the fold to meet at the midline for

improved phonation. This presentation will discuss Sofregen’s experience in engineering silk

protein for medical applications and the regulatory and manufacturing challenges associated with

introducing a new technology to market.

Biography

Dr. Hoang (PhD) brings strong interdisciplinary scientific

training to Sofregen. As a co-founder of Sofregen, she has

built a strong R&D team and developed a robust regulatory

strategy for the company to bring these products to

market. This effort produced the first product made from

reconstituted silk protein to be cleared by the FDA for a

medical use.

Outside of Sofregen, Dr. Hoang is a lecturer at Tufts

University within the department of Biomedical

Engineering. She serves on the Medtech Advisory Group

at Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (Massbio) and

Steering Committee of MassMedic Ignite Program. Dr. Hoang was a recipient of the 2018

Medtech Boston 40 under 40 Healthcare Innovators.

Dr. Hoang completed her doctorate degree in material science engineering from Vanderbilt

University as a National Science Foundation (IGERT) graduate fellow and completed her post-

doctoral training in biomedical engineering at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General

Hospital as an Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) fellow. Dr. Hoang is a proud graduate

of Mount Holyoke College (B.A).

Silk Fibroin implantable devices: different sites, different pathways.

Antonio Alessandrino

Chairman of the Board of Directors; Chief Technology Officer; Silk Biomaterials srl, Lomazzo

(CO), Italy

Abstract

Silk Fibroin is one the most ancient materials used in medical applications, however very few

devices, except sutures, are approved from FDA or have achieved CE mark.

Silk Biomaterials (SILK) is a medical technology Italian start-up established in 2014 to develop

innovative technologies for medical implantable devices based on silk fibroin. Its ambition is the

in-vivo regeneration of human tissues by harnessing the natural properties of silk and

experimenting with the first fibroin-made grafts for tissue repair procedures. The long-term

objective is to create a solid technology platform for regenerative medicine and other specific

procedures (vascular grafts and ligaments reconstruction, dura mater, skin repair, etc.).

In these years SILK is working on several devices for different clinical needs and, therefore,

different implantation sites. We started talks with the FDA for some of these to define the correct

experimental and regulatory pathways. As a function of the clinical need, the devices have different

requirements about e.g. morphology, mechanical properties, degradation rate.

Those different requirements have to be assessed with unique experimental plans according with

the regulatory requests of FDA or European Notified Bodies.

Biography

Antonio Alessandrino, Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology

Officer of Silk Biomaterials srl. PhD in Materials Engineering at

Politecnico di Milano, Antonio is an expert in the development of silk

medical implantable devices for regenerative medicine. Previously to Silk

Biomaterials srl, he acted as R&D specialist in INVISTA® a company of

KOCH Industries and as R&D freelance consultant working also as

temporary manager for R&D and product development projects.

Since 2014, he is involved in SILK, where his responsibilities primarily

include:

• Identification of opportunities and applications for the owned technologies

• Management of R&D activities

• Monitoring and scouting of technologies

• Definition of the company's IP & technology strategy

He is the inventor in several patents or patent applications related to the use of silk fibroin in

medical application; he is also the author of 15 peer-reviewed articles.

Giuliano Freddi, Chief Scientific Officer. Formerly the head of the

Biotechnology and Biomaterials Department of Innovhub - SSI, he has a

profound knowledge in silk-based biomaterials and development of tissue

engineered scaffolds. His research interests are:

biomedical utility of silk proteins for the development of tissue engineering

devices and bioactive dressings; textile biotechnology, with emphasis on

exploitation of enzymes for polymer and fibre processing aiming at the

substitution of traditional chemical treatments with new ones based on

biocatalysis. He also works on quality control and testing of raw materials,

intermediates, and final products. He is involved in technical and scientific education for both

technicians of the textile sector and students at all levels. He is a member of standardisation

committees at national and international level and is a consultant for international organizations

(World Bank, FAO). In SILK he acts also as Principal Investigator (PI) or Unit Coordinator (UC)

in national and international research projects. He has about 140 publications in peer-reviewed

journals and he is the author in 8 patents.

Developmental Strategies to Address Prosthetic Infection of Biomaterials

Bikramjit Basu

Full Professor; Materials Research Center & Center for Biosystems Science and Engineering,

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, INDIA.

Abstract

The prosthetic infection associated with biomedical implants is still a serious concern in hospitals

and clinics. It is therefore important to develop novel antimicrobial strategies, which can induce

bactericidal property at the site of infection in a non-invasive manner. In this overview lecture, I

will present two generic approaches, which demonstrate labscale success to induce bactericidal or

bacteriostatic effects, in vitro. The biomaterials-based approaches will include gold nanoparticles

and HA-based antibacterial composites. The bioengineering approach will be discussed in

reference to the intermittent delivery of electric or magnetic pulses to the bacterial growth medium

in vitro.

The first part of the presentation will dwell on the bacteriotoxic effects of the ultrasmall GNPs

stabilized by monosulphonated triphenylphosphine ligands. The toxicity dosages of such GNPs

provide a therapeutic dosage window for the utilization of ultrasmall GNPs as a treatment option

against prosthetic infection.

In the second part, three main antimicrobial strategies will be discussed – i) exposure of bacteria

cultured on HA or HA-Fe3O4 composites, to moderate intensity static magnetic fields (SMF); ii)

exposure of pathogenic strains to high strength pulse magnetic field (PMF) and iii) electric field

stimulation of pathogenic strains, when grown on conductive carbon or HA-ZnO composites.

Biography

Bikramjit Basu is Professor at the Materials Research

Center, with joint appointment at the Center for Biosystems

Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science,

Bangalore. He currently serves as Visiting Professor at

University of Manchester, UK. He has published over 300

peer-reviewed research papers in leading journals (total

citations: > 11,000 and H-index: 56), and holds 7 patents.

Since 2015, he is leading India’s largest Translational

Center of Excellence on biomaterials and implants, with 15

co-investigators.

Bikramjit’s contributions in Engineering Science have been

globally recognised by various awards and fellowships. He

received Government of India’s most coveted science and technology award, Shanti Swarup

Bhatnagar Prize in 2013 for his significant contributions to the field of Biomaterials Science. A

Chartered Engineer of the UK, he is an elected Fellow of the International Union of Societies for

Biomaterials Science and Engineering, International Academy of Medical and Biological

Engineering, American Ceramic Society, Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, UK. He will

receive the Richard Brook International Award from the European Ceramic Society in 2021.

Evaluating blood-biomaterial interactions: The Long Journey from Surface

Proteins to In vivo Performance

Buddy D. Ratner

Director, University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB21), Co-Director, Center

for Dialysis Innovation (CDI), Michael L. and Myrna Darland Endowed Chair in Technology

Commercialization, Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering, University of

Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, WA 98195 USA

Abstract

The absence of standardized tests for blood compatibility, the difficulties of reproducibly handling

blood, the multiple coagulation systems in the body and species-to-species differences in blood

reactivity have all complicated our ability to identify "blood compatible" biomaterials. This talk

will start with a surface hypothesis for blood compatibility based on albumin affinity, albumin

retention and fibrinogen inactivation. It will then discuss conundrums associated with triggering

the intrinsic clotting system. Finally, ex vivo evaluation of platelet interactions with biomaterials

will be discussed.

Biography

Ratner received his Ph.D. (1972) in polymer chemistry from

the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and is now Professor

of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering, University of

Washington (UW). He is a fellow AIMBE, AVS, AAAS,

BMES, ACS, ACS-POLY and the International College of

Fellows Biomaterials Science and Engineering. In 2002

Ratner was elected to the National Academy of Engineering,

USA. He has launched seven companies. He won numerous

awards including the AVS Welch Award (2002), SFB

Founders Award (2004), the BMES Pritzker Award (2008),

the Acta Biomaterialia Gold Medal (2009), Galletti Award

(2011), the George Winter Award of the European Society

for Biomaterials (2012) and the UW School of Medicine Lifetime Innovator and Inventor Award

(2014). He served as President of Society For Biomaterials in 1998 and AIMBE in 2002. He directs

UW Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB21) Engineering Research Center and is co-director of the

Center for Dialysis Innovation. He holds the Darland Endowed Chair in Technology

Commercialization. His research interests include biomaterials, medical devices, tissue

engineering-regenerative medicine, biocompatibility, polymers, surface analysis and plasma thin

film deposition.

The role of processing on silk performance

Chris Holland

Dept. Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield

Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD. United Kingdom

Abstract

Silk has garnered significant attention over the past 20 years for biomaterial applications.

However we are yet to truly develop the ability to process this material in a manner to retain all

of its natural, and attractive, qualities. Silks are biological polymers that have evolved to be

processed by controlled protein denaturation, a process depending on the researchers’

background, with similarities to amyloidogenesis for some and flow induced crystallisation for

others. Understanding the fundamental impact processing has on the performance of a silk will

be the focus of this presentation.

Processing silk in the unspun liquid state has been largely explored over the past 15 years

through the use of rheology. In this talk our contributions to this area will be presented and the

tools that have been developed to probe structural hierarchies in silk as it self-assembles.

Discussing more recent work we will draw on how whole animal and feedstock behaviour have

supported new perspectives onto silk hydration, the natural spinning process, improved

resolubilisation strategies and silk protein applications. We will conclude there is more to silk

than just a fibre and that Nature may in fact hold unique solutions to the current challenges

facing the synthetic polymer industry, i.e. routes towards low embodied energy, sustainable wet

processing of polymers.

Biography

Dr Holland is a Senior Lecturer based in The University of

Sheffield in the Materials Science and Engineering

Department (www.naturalmaterialsgroup.com). He

established the group through an EPSRC Early Career

Fellowship after being previously at Oxford University in

the Zoology Department where he undertook his degrees

and Junior Research Fellowship. He has 50+ publications

(H-index 23) and secured over £2M of direct research

funding. He is a keen advocate of Science communication

and outside the lab he is an Associate Editor for ACS

Biomaterials Science and Engineering and Chair of the

IoM3 Natural Materials Association.

His research uses tools developed for the physical sciences to better understand how processing

effects performance in natural materials. Using silk as a model system and studying how it is

spun, he has been able to gain unique insights into this material's biodiversity, structure and

evolution. Additionally, this work has made important links between natural and industrial fibre

processing which has led to several patents and a fundamentally new way of designing, testing

and fabricating bio-inspired materials which is now being realised as part of the H2020 FET

Open project FLIPT (www.h2020flipt.eu).

Antimicrobial systems based on biomimetic apatites: from bone applications

to nanomedicine

Christophe Drouet

CNRS Research Director, CIRIMAT Institute, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France

Abstract

Nanocrystalline nonstoichiometric apatites constitute the mineral part of our bones. IT is possible

to master the synthesis of biomimetic apatites in the laboratory, so as to mimic the characteristics

of bone apatite. This includes their high surface reactivity allowing one to incorporate biologically-

active ions and/or associate many types of (bio)molecules and drugs to convey additional

functionalities relevant to biomedical applications such as bone regeneration but also in other

domains as in nanomedicine (e.g. dermatology), exploiting the high intrinsic biocompatibility of

these compounds, that can be adequately formulated as colloidal particles is needed. In this talk, I

will give an overview of such bio-inspired apatites and will focus on the possibility to adjoin

antimicrobial properties, whether for bone repair applications or in dermatology. The possibility

to design smart delivery apatite-based systems will also be discussed. This talk will provide the

background for understanding the crucial differences between nanocrystalline apatites and well-

crystallized hydroxyapatite, and will also show some novel approaches in using these bio-inspired

compounds for antimicrobial activity.

Biography

A special focus in Prof. C. Drouet’s research is dedicated to

the investigation of bio-inspired calcium phosphates and

related compounds, in particular of biomimetic

nanocrystalline apatites analogous to bone mineral, in view

of innovative bio-medical applications (bone regeneration,

cellular drug delivery, medical imaging…). This includes a

physico-chemical but also a thermodynamic approach. One

area of active research is in tailoring such bio-inspired

biomaterials to convey additional “à la carte” functionalities

for use in oncology, hematology or dermatology, among

other fields. Leader of the “Phosphates, Pharmacotechnics,

Biomaterials” research group at CIRIMAT, University of

Toulouse, France, C. Drouet regularly supervises Ph.D theses in (bio)materials sciences and is

involved in the direction of undergraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, often international.

He is the French coordinator of the French-German BioCapabili Engineering Cluster on innovative

antimicrobial materials (www.biocapabili.com), and received the honorary Racquel Legeros

Award in June 2013 and the ISCM Excellence Award in 2016, for contribution to the field of

calcium phosphate research.

Translating Silk from the Lab to Patients – challenges and opportunities

David L. Kaplan

Professor & Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford,

Massachusetts, USA 02155

Abstract

Biography

David Kaplan is the Stern Family Endowed Professor of

Engineering at Tufts University and a Distinguished

University Professor. He is Professor and Chair of the

Department of Biomedical Engineering, with a joint

appointment at Tufts Medical School and in the

Department of Chemistry. His research focus is on

biopolymer engineering to understand structure-function

relationships for biomaterials, tissue engineering and

regenerative medicine. Since 2004, he has directed the

NIH P41 Tissue Engineering Resource Center (TERC) that

involves Tufts University and Columbia University. He

has published over 900 peer reviewed papers. He is the editor-in-chief of ACS Biomaterials Science

and Engineering and serves on many editorial boards and programs for journals and universities.

His lab has been responsible for over 100 patents issued or allowed, and numerous start-up

companies. He has also received a number of awards for his research and teaching.

A range of novel biomaterial systems and devices have been generated from silk proteins. These

proteins provide useful features in a medical context, such as water-based processing, robust and

tailorable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, tunable degradability and versatility in

material format. We exploit control of structure, morphology and chemistry of these protein

systems to optimize biomaterial features, cell interactions and tissue related outcomes.

Fundamental insight into the rules that govern some of these protein-based materials will be

discussed. This insight leads to examples of how to utilize such systems for biomedical devices

and in a broad range of new advanced materials. These insights and applications have led to a

series of technologies as well as start-up companies that exploit the novel properties of silk

biomaterials, from mechanics to stabilization and many other useful features. Examples of such

systems will be described, from new FDA-approved silk-based products to future perspectives

for the field.

Hints for the development and testing of anti-infective biomaterials from a

closer look at the complexity of the pathogenesis of implant infections

Davide Campoccia*, Lucio Montanaro and Carla Renata Arciola

*Senior Research Biologist

Laboratorio di Patologia delle Infezioni Associate all'Impianto (Research Unit on Implant

Infections), IRCSS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy.

Abstract

Different estimates indicate that about 0.5-1.5 million types of medical devices have currently

entered the global market. This broad variety of medical devices showcases the enormous potential

expressed by biomaterials, which are nowadays offering unprecedented possibilities for

prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. Notwithstanding, in many clinical

applications, including indwelling and implantable devices, the biomaterials susceptibility to

bacterial colonization and infection still represents an unresolved Achille’s heel. Even though rare,

biomaterials associated infections represent a main adverse event that frequently compromises the

functionality of medical devices, determining their failure. This particular type of infection is very

challenging not only to diagnose but also to treat. Anti-infective biomaterials are conceived to

generate a microenvironment hostile to bacteria and are currently regarded as the most promising

strategy to prevent these infections. Over the years, the etiology and the pathogenesis of

biomaterial associated infections have been the object of intense study, with the aim to unveil all

factors that concur to the emergence, persistence and irreducibility of biomaterial associated

infections. The latest findings from these investigative efforts reveal a scenery of increased

complexity, but also provide important hints that should be taken in consideration when designing

and testing new anti-infective biomaterials.

Biography

Dr. Campoccia’s research currently focuses on the

pathogenesis of implant infections, on the interactions of

bacteria with biomaterial surfaces and host cells, and on the

design and evaluation of anti-infective biomaterials. His

past research interests include biocompatibility of

hyaluronic acid derivatives and human cartilage tissue

engineering. Higher education: BSc in 1988 (Padua, Italy);

PhD in 1996 (Liverpool, UK). Employment: after a 3-year

period as Guest Researcher at the Department of Clinical

Engineering (Royal Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, UK)

granted by Fidia Srl and Fab Srl (Abano, Italy), in 1995 he

was appointed Expert in Research Activity and, in 1996,

R&D Project leader (Project: “Artificial cartilage”) at Fab Srl. In 1998, he became Manager

Quadro at Distrex Spa (Padua, Italy). From 2000 to present, he has been Dirigente Biologo (Senior

Research Biologist), initially at the Laboratory of Biocompatibility of Implant Materials and,

subsequently, at the Research Unit on Implant Infections of the IRCSS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

(Bologna, Italy). Dr. Campoccia has authored or co-authored 78 peer-reviewed publications in

international journals (H-index: 36) and a book chapter.

Advanced bactericidal coatings for long-term effective and safe uses in Health

Diego Mantovani, FBSE, FASM

Director, Lab Biomaterials and Bioengineering; Holder, Canada Research Chair Tier I; Full

Professor of Biomaterials; School of Min-Met-Materials Eng.; Regenerative Medicine Division,

CHU de Quebec Research Center; Laval University, Quebec city, Canada

Abstract

Over the last 50 years, biomaterials, prostheses and implants saved and prolonged the life of

millions of humans around the globe. Today, nano-biotechnology, nanomaterials and surface

modifications provides a new insight to the current problem of biomaterial complications, and

even allows us to envisage strategies for the organ shortage. In this talk, creative strategies for

designing advanced bactericidal coatings for health will be discussed. Based on plasma surface

modification, a platform was developed for antibacterial coatings showing stable bactericidal

properties over repeated cycles of cleaning, use or sterilization. However, a critical step for

controlling Ag release depends on the mechanism in which it is oxidized to produce Ag+. In this

presentation, we physically and chemically asses the differences between Ag and AgxOy in a

diamond-like carbon (DLC) matrix produced by low-vacuum plasma. Moreover, in order to

effectively translate the proposed coating to a hospital setting, it must be proven that the coating

is active against bacteria while remaining safe towards human cells. Thus, additionally to release

kinetics study using MP-AES, we also present the biological characterization performed on human

dermal fibroblasts by Alamar Blue Viability Assay and Immonuflouroscence staining.

Biography

Holder of the Canada Research Chair in Biomaterials and

Bioengineering for the Innovation in Surgery, professor at

the Department of Materials Engineering at Laval

University, senior scientist at the Division of Regenerative

Medicine of the Research Center of the CHU de Québec,

Diego Mantovani is a recognised specialist in

biomaterials. At the frontier between engineering, medicine

and biology, within his team, their works aim to improve the

clinical performances of medical devices for functional

replacement, and to envisage the next generations of

biomaterials to develop artificial organs enhancing the quality of the life of patients. He has

authored more than 250 original articles, holds 4 patents, and presented more than 170 keynotes,

invited and seminar lectures worldwide in the field of advanced materials for biomedical

applications. In 2012, he was nominated Fellow of the International Union of Societies for

Biomaterials Science & Engineering (FBSE), and in 2019 Fellow of the American Society for

Materials Intl, (FASM) for his leadership and contribution to biomaterials for medical devices.

He was Executive Co-Chair of the 10th World Biomaterials Congress 2016. He is advisor of three

medical devices consortium in the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Plasma Coatings – From Results to Innovation

Dirk Hegemann

Head of Plasma & Coating Group; Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and

Technology, Laboratory of Advanced Fibers, St.Gallen, Switzerland

Abstract

The use of plasma coatings is highly attractive to enhance biomaterials such as sensors, scaffolds,

antibacterial surfaces and others. Control over the formation of plasma coatings on the nanoscale

enables ultrathin films providing new surface properties. Investigations regarding mainly the

interaction with bacteria and proteins will be presented.

2 nm-thick hydrophobic cover layers on PDMS substrates of different crosslinking degree are used

to clarify the role of viscoelastic properties on bacterial growth indicating the lack of

mechanosensing abilities. Likewise, hydrophobic cover layers with varying film density are

explored to control water intrusion. Thus, a defined volume of water can be allowed to penetrate

a porous base layer. Protein adsorption of BSA is found to be affected by this hydration effect due

to orientation of water molecules in the subsurface. Moreover, controlled drug release from a Ag

reservoir is enabled for long-term antibacterial properties. On the contrary, undesired release from

conductive Ag-coated textile electrodes as used for ECG sensings can be avoided by passivation.

Recent progress in the understanding of plasma deposition processes enables increased control and

usability of functional plasma coatings at the nanoscale. Dry and environmentally friendly

processes can thus be implemented meeting the requirements for industrial applications.

Biography

Dr. Dirk Hegemann graduated in physics and earned a PhD

degree in materials science from TU Darmstadt, Germany.

As a scientist he worked with the Fraunhofer Institute for

Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology in Stuttgart,

Germany, before moving to Empa, the Swiss Federal

Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, in

2003. Currently, he is leading the group Plasma & Coating

at Empa's laboratory for Advanced Fibers in St.Gallen,

Switzerland. The main focus of his work concentrates on the

plasma treatment of polymeric substrates such as scaffolds,

membranes, textiles, packagings etc. by plasma etching,

plasma polymerization, and sputtering processes. Process

development and reactor design enable the transfer to industry.

Dirk Hegemann is appointed to the board of directors of the Swiss Physical Society (SPS) as well

as the International Plasma Chemistry Society (IPCS) and acts as Editor-in-chief for the journal

Plasma Processes and Polymers.

Melt Electrowriting: An Emerging Additive Biomanufacturing Technique for

Soft Tissue Engineering

Dr Elena De-Juan Pardo

Lab Head, Translational 3D Printing for Advanced Tissue Engineering Laboratory

(T3mPLATE)

Senior Lecturer, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western

Australia

Adjunct Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

Abstract

Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an emerging additive biomanufacturing technique capable of

printing fibrous constructs in ultra-high resolution, bringing down the jet diameter from the

micrometer to nanometer scale. Scaffolds manufactured by MEW are tailorable in terms of fibre

architecture, porosity and thickness. Moreover, MEW is a solvent-free process, compatible with

the use of medical grade thermoplastic polymers. These exclusive advantages make MEW an ideal

manufacturing technique for the production of scaffolds for a wide range of biomedical

applications. However, despite the great benefits of MEW, this technique is still at its infancy in a

few laboratory set-ups. In this talk, I will give an overview of the physical principles and unique

capabilities of MEW, followed by some examples on how to capitalize its potential to produce

scaffolds with controlled mechanical properties for soft tissue engineering. I will cover the

development of novel biomaterials capable of recapitulating the complex biomechanical features

of soft tissues. Native soft tissues are characterised by a strain-stiffening behaviour that makes

them very sensitive to load. Herein, the unique capabilities of MEW to produce biomimetic

scaffolds with controlled non-linearity, strain-stiffening behaviour, anisotropy and viscoelasticity

for soft tissue engineering will be presented.

Biography

Elena De-Juan-Pardo is a Senior Lecturer at The University

of Western Australia (UWA) and Laboratory Head at the

Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. She is a

materials engineer with 15 years of experience in biomaterials

and biofabrication for tissue engineering, regenerative

medicine and in vitro modelling. Her current research focuses

on the development of melt electrowriting, a pioneering 3D

printing technology that enables the production of highly

controlled fibrous scaffolds with tailored mechanical

properties for tissue engineering and biomedical applications.

From 2008-2012 she established and led the Tissue

Engineering and Biomaterials Group at the Centre of Studies

and Technical Research of Gipuzkoa (Spain) and served as Director of the Master in Biomedical

Engineering at the University of Navarra (Spain). In 2013 she joined the Centre in Regenerative

Medicine at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation of the Queensland University of

Technology to further expand her interdisciplinary research skills in the areas of biomaterials,

tissue engineering and biofabrication. She served as Deputy Director of the Centre for the three

years prior to joining UWA.

Development of Biomimetic Nanostructured Antibacterial Titanium Surfaces

Elena Ivanova

School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia

Abstract

Titanium is the material of choice for the manufacture of medical implants because of excellent

corrosion resistance and proven biocompatibility. The occurrence of premature implant failure is

due to implant-associated infections caused by the presence of pathogenic, often antibiotic resistant

bacteria, however, remains a prominent concern for clinicians.

Here we consider few examples of biomimetic antibacterial titanium surfaces. Naturally occurring

building strategies generate a remarkable compilation of technical equilibrium that is shared

amongst many biological materials. These principles of surface growth are rarely found on the

surfaces of conventional metals but have the potential to provide desirable properties when used

as templates for the natural materials. Antibacterial superhydrophobic quasi periodic self-

organized structures on titanium surfaces that possesses a surface topography mimicking that of

the surface of the lotus leaf, Nelumbo nucifera can be fabricated using femtosecond laser ablation

in a single processing step. A great deal of inspiration has resulted from studying the self-cleaning

insect wing surfaces. Hydrothermal etching of titanium surfaces, to produce random nanosheet

topologies that mimicked the surface architecture of dragonfly wings, has shown remarkable

ability to inactivate pathogenic bacteria via a physical mechanism. The results reported here

provide evidence that titanium surface nano-features can be engineered with a view to controlling

bacterial attachment.

Biography

Professor Elena P. Ivanova’s professional interests are

concentrated on development and research coordination in

fundamental and applied aspects of Nano/Biotechnology

including planar micro-devices, biomaterials,

immobilization of biomolecules and microorganisms in

micro/nano/environments, antimicrobial and bactericidal

surfaces, bacterial interactions with micro/nano-structured

surfaces. She received her Doctor of Philosophy from the

Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Ukraine, Doctor of

Science from the Pacific Institute of Bio-organic Chemistry,

Russian Federation, Juris Doctorate from the University of

Melbourne and Graduate Diploma from the Law Institute,

Victoria. Together with colleagues, Elena has published two books, edited 3 books, 26 book

chapters, 4 patents, in excess of 300 research papers. Professor Ivanova has been the recipient of

AIST and JSPS Fellowships (Japan), a UNESCO Biotechnology Fellowship, a Research

Excellence Award from the Governor of Primorye (Russia), the Prominent Young Doctor of

Science Award from the Russian Federation, the Morrison Rogosa Award from the American

Society for Microbiology (USA), the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Scientific Research.

Novel Highly Bioactive 3D Printed Ceramic Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration

Prof Hala Zreiqat, PhD, AM

Director, Tissue Engineering & Biomaterials Research Unit

Director, Australian Research Centre for Innovative Bioengineering

University of Sydney, Australia

Abstract

An ongoing challenge in bone tissue engineering is to create porous constructs (scaffolds) with

large and interconnected pores necessary for vascularisation and bone formation while supporting

the static and cyclic loads present in vivo. A wide variety of 3D scaffolds of different structures

and material properties has been reported in the literature for bone regeneration; however, these

have struggled to meet the requirements for adequate pore geometry and bioactivity combined

with the mechanical strength necessary for bone regeneration under load. Bone is able to achieve

these properties via its unique anisotropic structure and truss architecture. We used a three

dimensional (3D) printing technology to fabricate glass-ceramic scaffolds with distinct pore

geometries. We have taken a step towards meeting the combined requirements for bone

regeneration under load through our development of the Sr-HT-Gahnite ceramic, which is

bioactive. We recently optimised our 3D printing technology to fabricate ceramic scaffolds with

different internal geometries, which simultaneously display the properties of high mechanical

strength and bone-like architecture. This presentation will discuss our three dimensional (3D)

printed ceramic scaffold and their efficacy in treating large bone defects under load. Our

technologies open avenues for skeletal and soft tissue regeneration in various clinical applications.

Biography

Hala Zreiqat is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the

University of Sydney; a National Health and Medical Research

Council Senior Research Fellow; Co-Director of the Shanghai-

Sydney Joint Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine Lab

at Shanghai JiaoTong; Honorary Professor Shanghai Jiao Tong

University and Adjunct Professor Drexel University. Her

research is on the development of novel engineered materials

and 3D-printed platforms that mimic tissue structures,

particularly in orthopaedic, dental, and maxillofacial

applications. Her pioneering development of innovative

biomaterials for tissue regeneration has led to one awarded (US)

and 8 provisional patents, and several collaborations with

inter/national industry partners. She has received several

awards, including the Order of Australia; the 2018 New South Wales Premier’s Woman of the

Year; The King Abdullah II Order of Distinction of the Second Class - the highest civilian honour

bestowed by the King of Jordan (2018); Eureka Prize winner for Innovative Use of Technology

(2019); Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (2019); Fellow of

International Orthopaedic Research (FIOR); and University of Sydney Payne-Scott Professorial

Distinction (2019).

Antimicrobial Biomaterials of Natural Origin and their Biomedical

Applications

Professor Ipsita Roy

Professor of Biomaterials; Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Faculty of

Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

Abstract

Natural Polymers have the potential to be used in a variety of biomedical applications due to

their excellent biocompatibility, varied mechanical properties and sustainable resourcing.

There are a distinct class of natural polymers that are produced by controlled bacterial

fermentation including Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), Bacterial cellulose (BC), -

Polyglutamate (-PGA) and Alginate. The added advantage of this class of natural polymers

include the highly controlled production conditions resulting in repeatable properties.

PHAs are polymers of 3,4,5 and 6-hydroxyalkanoic acids produced by bacteria, mainly under

nutrient limiting conditions. In this work we have modified PHAs with various natural

antibacterial agents and active factors. In addition, a naturally antibacterial class of PHAs, thio-

PHAs have also been produced. All of these polymers have been characterised with respect to

their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Escherichia coli

ATCC 8739 following ISO22916. These antibacterial polymers have been used for the

development of tissue engineering scaffolds and medical devices.

BC is produced by several bacteria including Gluconacetobacter xylinus and has an inherent

hydrogel-like structure. In this work the surface of cellulose has been functionalized to produce

antibacterial BC. The cytotoxicity evaluation using HaCaT cells confirmed cytocompatibility

for both modified and unmodified BC.

Biography

Professor Ipsita Roy is an expert in microbial

biotechnology, natural biomaterials and their biomedical

applications. She is currently a Professor at the Department

of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of

Engineering, University of Sheffield, UK. Professor Roy

obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge and her

postdoctoral work was at the University of Minnesota, USA.

Subsequently, Professor Roy taught at Indian Institute of

Technology, India, and University of Westminster, London,

UK. Professor Roy has published over 100 papers in high

‘Impact Factor’ journals such as Biomaterials, Acta

Biomaterialia and ACS Applied Materials Interfaces and

has presented her work at numerous international conferences. Her group is currently focussed

on the production of novel polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a group of FDA-approved natural

polymers, their characterisation and application in hard/soft tissue engineering, wound healing

and drug delivery. She is an editor of the Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology

(JCTB). Professor Roy has a total grant portfolio of 8.9 million pounds and has been the

scientific coordinator of two large EU projects REBIOSTENT and HYMEDPOLY.

Bioink Materials for Biomedical Applications

James J. Yoo

Professor, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine; Wake Forest School of Medicine;

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

Abstract

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has emerged as an innovative scientific field that

focuses on developing new approaches to repairing cells, tissues and organs. Over the years,

various engineering strategies have been developed to build functional tissues and organs for

clinical applications. In recent years, 3D bioprinting has gained an enormous attention as an

innovative tool that enables construction of complex 3D tissue structures for translational

applications. This developing field promises to revolutionize the field of medicine addressing the

dire need for tissues and organs suitable for surgical reconstruction. However, further development

is necessary to be able to bring this technology to the clinic. This session will discuss various

approaches to building complex tissue structures using the 3D printing technology. Development

efforts in the bioink materials unique to building 3D printed structures for biomedical applications

will also be discussed.

Biography

Dr. Yoo is Professor and Associate Director of the Wake

Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), with

a cross-appointment to the Departments of Urology,

Physiology and Pharmacology, and the Virginia Tech-Wake

Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences. Dr.

Yoo's research efforts have been directed toward the clinical

translation of tissue engineering technologies and cell-based

therapies. Dr. Yoo's background in cell biology and

medicine has facilitated the transfer of several cell-based

technologies from the bench-top to the bedside. A few

notable examples of successful clinical translation include

the bladder, urethra, vagina, and muscle cell therapy for incontinence. Dr. Yoo has been a lead

scientist in the bioprinting program at WFIRM and has been instrumental in developing skin

bioprinting and integrated tissue and organ printing (ITOP) systems for preclinical and clinical

applications.

Designing Hydrogel Inks for Extrusion Printing

Jason A. Burdick

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Abstract

Our laboratory is interested in developing new biomaterials for 3D printing, as well as new printing

processes to expand the utility of 3D printing in biomedical applications. This includes towards

the development of enabling technologies to advance our toolbox of materials and printing

approaches for 3D printing in precision medicine. Hydrogels represent a class of biomaterials that

have great promise for these applications, particularly due to our ability to engineer their

biophysical and biochemical properties and the potential for cell encapsulation during printing.

This presentation will provide an overview of our approaches to advance the applications of

hydrogels in extrusion-based 3D printing. This includes the engineering of shear-thinning and

self-healing hydrogels that can act as bioinks or as media for embedding printing technologies,

where various materials can be printed anywhere within 3D space and as sacrificial materials to

form channels. Further, we have developed both direct-curing and jammed microgel technologies

to print photocrosslinkable hydrogels that do not meet the stringent requirements (e.g., rheological

properties) for current printing techniques. Examples will be provided in how these new materials

and techniques have been used in the engineering of in vitro models (e.g., vessels) and for

translational tissue repair applications (e.g., cartilage repair).

Biography

Jason A. Burdick, PhD is the Robert D. Bent Professor of

Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Burdick’s

research involves the development of hydrogels through

techniques such as photocrosslinking and self-assembly and their

processing using approaches such as electrospinning and 3D

printing. The applications of his research range from controlling

stem cell differentiation through material cues to fabricating

scaffolding for regenerative medicine and tissue repair. Jason

currently has over 240 peer-reviewed publications and has been

awarded a K22 Scholar Development and Career Transition

Award through the National Institutes of Health, an Early Career Award through the Coulter

Foundation, a National Science Foundation CAREER award, a Packard Fellowship in Science and

Engineering, and an American Heart Association Established Investigator Award. He was recently

awarded the Clemson Award through the Society for Biomaterials and the George H.

Heilmeier Faculty Award for Excellence in Research. He is on the editorial boards of Tissue

Engineering, Biofabrication, and Advanced Healthcare Materials, and is an Associate Editor

for ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering.

Interactions at the blood-material interface: reflections and reminiscences.

John L. Brash, FRSC

Distinguished University Professor,

School of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering,

McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

First I want to thank Professors Kyla Sask and Hong Chen for their initiative and efforts in

organizing this workshop. I am greatly honoured to be seen, in a sense, as the “motivation” for the

inclusion of a session at the WBC (in Glasgow, where it all began for me) on the topic of blood-

material interactions, a topic on which I have spent by far the greatest part of my scientific career.

In this brief presentation I will look back on what I see as some of the highlights of my work,

which has focused on the role of protein adsorption in coagulation and thrombosis provoked by

blood-material contact, and on the exploitation/control of protein interfacial behaviour towards a

solution to these problems. It should be acknowledged that any success which may be attributed

to me must be shared with a long list of collaborators to whom I am most grateful and much

indebted.

Biography

John Brash is a Distinguished University Professor of

McMaster University. His main interest is in biomaterials

and biocompatibility with emphasis on materials for use in

blood contact. Both mechanistic and materials development

work have been pursued. The behaviour of proteins at the

blood-material interface has been an important underlying

theme. Collaborative research has been carried out with

laboratories in Canada, China, USA, France, Sweden and

Australia. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

(2004) and recipient of the Clemson Award for Basic

Research (1994) and the Founders Award (2009), US

Society for Biomaterials; the C.P. Sharma Award, Indian

Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs (2016); and the Lifetime Achievement Award,

Canadian Biomaterials Society (2016).

3D Printing for Engineering Complex Tissues

John P. Fisher

NIBIB / NIH Center for Engineering Complex Tissue, Fischell Department of Bioengineering,

University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

Abstract

The generation of complex tissues has been an increasing focus in tissue engineering and

regenerative medicine. With recent advances in bioprinting technology, our laboratory has

focused on the development of platforms for the treatment and understanding of clinically

relevant problems ranging from congenital heart disease to preeclampsia. We utilize

stereolithography-based and extrusion-based additive manufacturing to generate patient-specific

vascular grafts, prevascular networks for bone tissue engineering, dermal dressings, cell-laden

models of preeclampsia, and bioreactors for expansion of stem cells. Furthermore, we have

developed a range of UV crosslinkable materials to provide clinically relevant 3D printed

biomaterials with tunable mechanical properties. Such developments demonstrate the ability to

generate biocompatible materials and fabricated diverse structures from natural and synthetic

biomaterials. In addition, one of the key challenges associated with the development of large

tissues is providing adequate nutrient and waste exchange. By combining printing and dynamic

culture strategies, we have developed new methods for generating macrovasculature that will

provide adequate nutrient exchange in large engineered tissues. This presentation will cover the

diverse range of materials and processes developed in our laboratory and their application to

relevant, emerging problems in tissue engineering.

Biography

Dr. John P. Fisher is the Director of NIBIB / NIH Center for

Engineering Complex Tissue, Fischell Family Distinguished Professor,

and Department Chair in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at

the University of Maryland. As the Director of the Tissue Engineering

and Biomaterials Laboratory, Dr. Fisher’s group investigates

biomaterials, stem cells, bioprinting, and bioreactors for the

regeneration of lost tissues, particularly bone, cartilage, and

cardiovascular tissues. Dr. Fisher’s laboratory has published over 165

articles, book chapters, and proceedings (7500+ citations / 48 h-index)

as well as delivered over 340 invited and contributed presentations,

while utilizing over $15M in financial support from NIH, NSF, FDA,

NIST, DoD, and other institutions. Dr. Fisher has been elected Fellow of both the American

Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2012) and the Biomedical Engineering Society

(2016). Dr. Fisher is currently the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Tissue Engineering and

Chair of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society - Americas

Chapter.

Augmentation Cystoplasty of Diseased Porcine Bladders

with Bi-Layer Silk Fibroin Grafts

Joshua R. Mauney

Associate Professor of Urology and Biomedical Engineering; Jerry D. Choate Presidential

Chair in Urology Tissue Engineering; University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA

Abstract

Partial bladder outlet obstruction (pBOO) commonly results from neurogenic bladder and posterior

urethral valves. pBOO causes fibroproliferative remodeling of the detrusor, which results in

diminished bladder capacity, poor compliance, and incomplete emptying. Enterocystoplasty

presents the primary surgical procedure utilized to increase bladder capacity, reduce urinary

storage pressures, preserve renal function, and achieve urinary continence. Unfortunately, the

transposition of gastrointestinal (GI) segments into the urinary tract is associated with significant

complications, including chronic urinary tract infection (UTI), mucus production, and metabolic

abnormalities. Therefore, there is a significant need to develop alternative approaches for bladder

reconstruction. The search for an ideal "off-the-shelf" biomaterial for augmentation cystoplasty

remains elusive and current scaffold configurations are hampered by mechanical and

biocompatibility restrictions. In addition, preclinical evaluations of potential scaffold designs for

bladder repair are limited by the lack of tractable large animal models of obstructive bladder

disease that can mimic clinical pathology. The results of this study describe a novel, minimally

invasive, porcine model of pBOO that simulates clinically relevant phenotypes. Utilizing this

model, we demonstrate that acellular, bi-layer silk fibroin grafts can support the formation of

vascularized, innervated bladder tissues with functional properties.

Biography

Dr. Joshua Mauney is a tenured Associate Professor in the

Departments of Urology and Biomedical Engineering at the

University of California, Irvine. He holds the Jerry D. Choate

Presidential Endowed Chair in Urology Tissue Engineering. He

received his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and Ph.D. in

Biotechnology Engineering from Tufts University. Dr. Mauney’s

laboratory focuses on the development and evaluation of silk

fibroin grafts for the repair of visceral hollow organs including

the bladder, urethra, esophagus, and trachea. He also specializes

in the creation of novel large animal models of urinary tract and

gastrointestinal disease for preclinical medical device testing. Dr.

Mauney has been continuously funded from the National Institutes of Health since 2011 and

currently serves as the principal investigator on 2 R01 grants from NIDDK. Dr. Mauney has

authored >40 international peer-reviewed journal publications.

Novel Hydrogels and their Uses in Biomanufacturing

Justin Cooper-White

Professor of Bioengineering, School of Chemical Engineering; Senior Group Leader, Tissue

Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and

Nanotechnology; Co-Director, UQ Centre for Stem Cell Ageing and Regenerative Engineering;

Chair of School of Chemical Engineering; University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland,

Australia

Abstract

The clinical potential of stem cells in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and their

exploitation in in vitro disease models for drug toxicity and discovery, is recognised to be

significant, but remains a substantial challenge to realise and effect. Many of these challenges lie

in achieving high quality, high purity cellular products (whether stem cells, differentiated progeny

or neo-tissues) in sufficient numbers or volumes, reproducibly. Repurposed traditional culture

ware and FDA approved biomedical polymers for these applications has failed to address these

challenges.

In this workshop presentation, I will overview how new insights into the biology and physiology

of stem cells, their differentiated progeny and tissues, have been derived from synthetic hydrogels

that display physicochemical properties reminiscent of the natural cell microenvironment and that

can be engineered to display essential biological cues. I will also discuss how having learnt from

these insights we and others have developed next generation hydrogels that have seen applications

in cell bioprocessing and biomanufacturing. Lastly, I will highlight how high throughput

methodologies are now being used to, in an unbiased manner, identify novel ‘biomaterial-driven’

effectors of stem cell behaviours to unlock the clinical potential of stem cells in cell therapy, tissue

engineering and regenerative medicine.

Biography

Professor Cooper-White’s laboratory develops biomaterials

and biomicrodevices to decipher the roles of biophysical

and biochemical cues provided by the extracellular (niche)

microenvironment on stem cell fate. Such insights inform

the design of directive biomaterials that are applied to cell

therapy and musculoskeletal and cardiovascular

repair/regeneration. Prof. Cooper-White has over 200

publications in high impact journals, including Science

Advances, Nature Communications, Nature Protocols,

Biomaterials, Lab on a Chip, Stem Cells, Cell Stem Cell,

Stem Cells and Development, Integrative Biology and APL

Bioengineering. He has produced 6 Worldwide patents that

have reached National Phase Entry in USA, Europe and Australia in the areas of formulation

design for agriproducts, microbioreactor arrays (MBAs) and tissue engineering scaffolds. He has

received numerous awards, including most recently CSIRO OCE Science Leader Fellowship

(2013-2018), the AON Insurance and Life Sciences Queensland Regenerative Medicine Award

(2015) and the NHMRC Marshall and Warren Award for Research Excellence (2015).

3D Printing to Support Surgery and Interventions

Kawal Rhode

Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Head of Education, School of Biomedical Engineering &

Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, 4th Floor Lambeth Wing, St. Thomas’ Hospital,

London, United Kingdom

Abstract

3D printing offers many advantages including low cost, a wide range of materials, a direct link to

computer software and easy deployment. It is therefore not surprising that the use of this

technology in healthcare is an active area of research and development with many commercial

solutions already deployed, for example in dental practice. At King’s Health Partners, we are using

3D printing for a wide range of applications such as pre-operative planning, surgical and

interventional training, healthcare education, patient implants and medical robotics. This

presentation will highlight our experience and show how 3D printing is positively impacting

patient care, research and education at King’s.

Figure 1: (A) Digital CAD model of thoracic surgery training phantom (B) Physical model of

training phantom created using 3D printing.

Biography

Professor Rhode obtained his bachelor’s degree in Basic

Medical Sciences and Radiological Sciences at Guy's & St.

Thomas' Hospitals Medical School in 1992 and his

doctorate in Medical Physics from the Department of

Surgery, University College London in 2006. He has

worked in the field of healthcare technology research at

King’s College London since 2001 and is currently

Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Head of

Education for the School of Biomedical Engineering and

Imaging Sciences. His current research interests include

image-guided interventions, intelligent mechatronics

systems for interventions and ultrasound imaging, 3D

printing in healthcare and pedagogy for biomedical engineering. Prof. Rhode has more than 350

publications in journals, conference proceedings, book chapters and patents.

(B) (A)

Nanoengineering of plasma polymers for advanced biomedical devices

Krasimir Vasilev

School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Australia

Email: krasimir.vasilev@unisa.edu.au

Abstract

In this keynote talk, I will give an overview of recent progress from my lab on development of

advanced surfaces capable of controlling infection, inflammation and stem cell differentiation.

Over the last few years, we have created the means to control the entire spectrum of surface

properties including chemical, physical, mechanical and topographical. We do that by

nanoengineering and tailoring traditional plasma polymer films using tools from nanotechnology.

By controlling surface properties, we are able to address medical challenges that are often

encountered with implantable devices such as infection and inflammation. We have developed

four distinct classes of antibacterial surfaces that are suitable for application on various medical

devices. These surfaces can be classified based on their mechanism of action as non-sticky, contact

killing, antimicrobial compound releasing and stimuli responsive. I will provide examples and

describe the strategies used to create these types surfaces, including such being translated onto

commercial devices in collaboration with industry. Recently, we have also revealed that the

mechanism of surface nanotopography induced modulation of inflammation is the unfolding of

adsorbed fibrinogen. This unfolding is surface nanotopography scale dependent and leads to the

exposure of (normally hidden) peptide sequences that activate the MAC-1 receptor of immune

cells. Finally, I will report on a bladder cancer diagnostic technology that we are currently

commercializing.

Biography

Professor Vasilev completed his PhD at the Max-Planck

Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany in 2005.

He is currently an NHMRC Fellow and a Humboldt Fellow,

and a Full Professor at the University of South Australia.

His research focuses on engineering and tailoring at a

molecular level of the disciplinary interphase, where

biological entities interact with biomaterials and devices.

He is the author of more than 200 publications, 5 patents and

has been awarded in excess of 20 million dollars of research

funding. His work results in translation of research

discoveries to tangible commercial outcomes such as device

for bladder cancer diagnostics and antibacterial surface for

hip and knee implants, both technologies being currently industrialized with commercial partners.

For his work, he has received various honors and awards such as the John A. Brodie Medal for

achievements in Chemical Engineering in 2016 and the International Association of Advanced

Materials Medal (IAAM medal) for contributions to the field of Advanced Materials in 2017. In

2017, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).

Mechanisms and analysis of blood-cell activation at biomaterials

Manfred F. Maitz, Claudia Sperling, Carsten Werner

Institute Biofunctional Polymer Materials

Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Strasse 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany

Abstract

Medical devices in contact with streaming blood, such as vascular stents, -grafts, heart valves,

tubes, or hemodialysis filters, have increasing applications in clinical medicine. As foreign

materials, they tend to activate plasmatic and cellular defense systems of coagulation and

inflammation. In blood, these reactions do not stay local but propagate into the whole body and

may pose risks to remote organs. Understanding and analysing these reactions, therefore, is

mandatory in order to improve the hemocompatibility of the materials.

Blood platelets and leukocytes are effector cells of blood coagulation and inflammatory responses,

respectively. Upon activation, platelets induce clot formation by aggregation, propagation of the

coagulation cascade, and exhibition of pro-coagulant properties. Activated leukocytes damage

tissue by the release of proteases and reactive oxygen species; they also attract and activate more

inflammatory cells via cytokine release.

This talk shall present the pathways of cell activation and their interplay. Test systems for in vitro

screening of cell activation and suitable parameters for analysis shall be presented.

Biography

Manfred Maitz is a medical doctor by education. He has

been working in the field of biomaterials for more than 20

years in institutes in Würzburg, Ulm, Rossendorf (Dresden),

Chengdu, and Dresden. He is currently group leader for

hemocompatible surfaces at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer

Research Dresden, Germany, and guest professor at

Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China.

With his co-workers he investigates pathways of blood-

biomaterial interaction and analyses materials for blood-

contacting devices. The focus of his research is on the

development of auto-controlled, feedback-responsive

materials which have high hemocompatibility due to their

interaction with physiological pathways.

Blood-material interactions from a bleeding perspective

Maud Gorbet1, Matthew Robichaud1, Kassem Ashe2 1Material Interactions with Biological Systems Laboratory

Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

2 St. Mary’s General Hospital, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Despite years of research, we have yet to design materials that are truly blood compatible: cardiovascular

implant recipients continue to require lifelong anticoagulant therapy while heparin is also routinely needed

during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and hemodialysis. Significant efforts have been undertaken to

characterize blood-material interactions and better understand the mechanisms involved in cell activation

and the interplay between the coagulation, fibrinolytic and complement systems. Due to the higher

prevalence of clotting complications, blood-material interactions are most often characterized from a

thrombotic perspective. However, the outcome of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery can also be excessive

bleeding. While the incidence of excessive postoperative bleeding may be reported to be as low as 6%,

these patients require a significant volume of blood transfusion, often need additional surgery and have a

higher risk of morbidity. In this talk, we will discuss how contact with biomaterials and the stresses that

blood cells are exposed to during CPB can result in a loss of functionality and contribute to bleeding

complications. To provide further context to the discussion, recent in vivo data will also be presented.

Biography

Maud Gorbet graduated from the Université de Technologie de Compiègne

(UTC) in biological engineering, option Biomateriaux, in 1993 and after

working in a canadian biomedical company pursued her PhD in chemical

engineering at the University of Toronto (Canada) investigating the

mechanisms of material-induced thrombosis in vitro. As a Senior Biomaterial

Scientist at Rimon Therapeutics Ltd, a Toronto startup, she worked on the

biological efficacy and safety of wound healing biomaterials. Her strong

research interests in understanding the mechanisms involved in material’s

biocompatibility led her to join the University of Waterloo (UW) in 2007. Her

research program involves the development of better in vitro models and tools

to assess biocompatibility and the study of the mechanisms involved in

material-induced cell activation. Over the past 10 years, she has collaborated

with start-up companies, ophthalmic industries, clinicians, scientists and engineers both nationally and

internationally (France, Australia and the USA). She also enjoys teaching about medical devices and

biocompatibility. She recently spearheaded the creation of the biomedical engineering undergraduate

program at UW and was appointed Director of the biomedical engineering program for its initial 5 years

and is currently the interim chair for Systems Design Engineering.

How to publish successfully: writing a scientific article

Neil Hammond

Executive Editor, Biomaterials Science, Royal Society of Chemistry, Thomas Graham House,

Milton Road, Cambridge CB40HF, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Writing and publishing journal articles is an unavoidable component of any modern research

career. Nevertheless, formal training in how to write effectively in order to maximize the chance

of success is frequently overlooked. Indeed, good science is often poorly communicated, even by

senior experienced researchers. In this workshop Dr Hammond will present his perspective, as

both an author of scientific articles and as a publishing professional, on the guiding principles

behind good science writing and on specific strategies and tips for improving written

communication. He will focus on the traditional format of the scientific article (abstract, title,

introduction, etc), but with reference to techniques and approaches that can be successfully

translated to other written formats (project proposals, PhD thesis, grant proposal, etc).

Biography

Dr Hammond received an MPhys degree in Physics from

Liverpool University in 1998, and a PhD in Nuclear

Structure Physics, also from Liverpool University, in 2002.

He completed a 2-year postdoctoral position at Argonne

National Laboratory, USA in heavy-ion physics research

before leaving research to begin a career in publishing. He

is currently an Executive Editor at the Royal Society of

Chemistry, the UKs professional body for chemical

scientists, and the not-for-profit publisher of 44 academic

journals. Neil is responsible at the RSC for the development

of 5 journals, including Biomaterials Science. He has held

various roles in academic publishing over the last 15 years,

and has worked with a diverse range of academic

communities and learned societies. He has co-authored more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed

journals.

Advances in bioprinting technology from layer-by-layer cell printing to

volumetric bioprinting

Riccardo Levato

Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht,

Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, and Department of Equine Sciences, Utrecht University,

Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract

The function of living tissues is intimately linked to their complex architectures. Biofabrication

technologies are rapidly advancing as powerful tools capable to capture salient features of tissue

composition and thus guide the maturation of engineered construct into mimicking functionalities

of native organs. In biofabrication, multiple cell types and biomaterials are patterned in three

dimension through automated processes, either via bioprinting or bioassembly. The current

paradigm in bioprinting relies on the additive layer‐by‐layer deposition and assembly of repetitive

building blocks, typically cell‐laden hydrogel fibers or voxels, single cells, or cellular aggregates.

Since its initial conception and its first implementations through inkjet printing technologies,

bioprinting rapidly introduced a new toolset for bioengineers and material scientists to produce

new strategies to restore the function of impaired tissues. In this contribution, both currently

available and innovative bioprinting approaches will be reviewed, with a particular focus on how

these techniques can be combined to mimic the multi-material hierarchical composition of living

tissues. Key concepts underlying extrusion, laser and light-based technologies will be discussed,

together with the recent emergence of field-based printing methods. Finally, technological

advances and challenges towards the biofabrication of large, clinically-relevant multi-tissue

constructs via the development of volumetric bioprinting will be discussed.

Biography

Dr. Levato’s research focuses on the development of novel

biofabrication strategies to create lab-made tissue models

and transplantable engineered grafts, particularly for the

regeneration of the musculoskeletal system. His lab

integrates expertise in engineering, stem cell biology,

biomaterials and cartilage and bone pathophysiology, to

translate biofabricated structures towards novel treatments

for the regeneration of damaged articulating joints. The

application of said technologies for engineering soft tissues

is also explored. For his work on biofabrication, he received

several awards, including the 2018 Orthoregeneration

Network Fellowship by the International Cartilage Repair

Society, the 2016 Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine Young Investigator Award and

the 2015 Julia Polak award by the European Society for Biomaterials. Prior to his appointment at

UMCU, Dr. Levato also worked in several research groups in the field of Biomaterials: 3Bs,

University of Minho, (Portugal); BioMatLab, Technical University of Milan (Italy), Institute for

Bioengineering of Catalonia (Spain), and he holds a cum laude PhD in Biomedical Engineering

from the Technical University of Catalonia (Spain). Currently he is mentoring 6 PhD students.

Photopolymerization-Based 3D Printing for Medical Device Applications

Roger Narayan

Professor of Biomedical Engineering;

University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA

Abstract

In this talk, I will describe recent advances in photopolymerization-based 3D printing

technologies to process microstructured and nanostructured materials for medical applications.

For example, an additive manufacturing approach known as two photon polymerization has been

used for selective polymerization of photosensitive resins. Polymerization of structures with

microscale and nanoscale features is achievable since multiphoton absorption exhibits a

nonlinear relationship with the incident light intensity. We have used two photon polymerization

used to create several types of medically-relevant structures with microscale and nanoscale

features out of photosensitive polymers and organically-modified ceramic materials. Materials

testing and application-specific device testing, including in vivo studies, will be considered.

Biography

Dr. Roger Narayan is a Professor in the Joint Department of

Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina

and North Carolina State University. He is an author of over

two hundred publications as well as several book chapters

on processing and characterization of biomedical materials.

Dr. Narayan has also edited several books, such as the

textbook Biomedical Materials (Springer) and the handbook

Materials for Medical Devices (ASM International). Dr.

Narayan has received many honors for his research

activities, such as the NCSU Alcoa Foundation Engineering

Research Achievement Award, the NCSU Sigma Xi Faculty

Research Award, the University of North Carolina

Jefferson-Pilot Fellowship in Academic Medicine, the University of North Carolina Junior Faculty

Development Award, the National Science Faculty Early Career Development Award, the Office

of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, and the American Ceramic Society Richard M.

Fulrath Award. Dr. Narayan has been elected as Fellow of the American Ceramic Society, AAAS,

ASM International, and AIMBE

Scalable Manufacturing of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiac

Microtissues

Sean P. Palecek

Director for Research, Center for Cell Manufacturing Technology; Milton J. and Maude

Shoemaker Professor; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; University of

Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Abstract

In recent years, tremendous advances have been made in differentiating human pluripotent stem

cells (hPSCs) to cardiomyocytes and evaluating these cells in preclinical models of heart disease.

While hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes have improved cardiac function in animals after myocardial

infarction, cell viability and immature phenotypes limit efficacy. Also, a lack of robust and

scalable manufacturing platforms plagues efforts to advance these cells into human clinical trials.

In an effort to improve cell quality and increase manufacturability, we have developed aggregates

consisting of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, and endothelial cells that can be

maintained in suspension culture. We found that endothelial cells and cardiac fibroblasts enhance

distinct maturation phenotypes of cardiomyocytes including marker expression, morphology,

contractility, and electrophysiology in 2D and 3D models. These effects on maturation are most

pronounced if endothelial cells and fibroblasts are in direct contact with cardiomyocyte progenitors

during manufacturing. Finally, we have developed methods for scalable production of

therapeutically relevant numbers of cardiomyocytes (~109 cells) in 3D aggregates and found that

suspension manufacturing reduces costs by ~80% as compared to 2D manufacturing, largely due

to reductions in media costs. These 3D manufacturing platforms have the potential to advance

manufacturing of human cardiomyocytes for therapeutics and in vitro testing applications.

Biography

Sean Palecek is the Milton J. and Maude Shoemaker Professor

and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the

Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at the

University of Wisconsin – Madison. Sean is the Bioengineering

Thrust Leader for the UW Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine

Center, the Director for Research for the National Science

Foundation Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies

(CMaT), and the Director for Research Innovation for the

Forward BIO Institute. Sean is also a Fellow at the Allen Institute

for Cell Science. Sean’s research lab studies how human

pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) sense and respond to

microenvironmental cues in making fate choices, with a focus on

differentiation to cardiovascular lineages. Sean’s lab has

generated novel mechanistic insight and developed protocols for

differentiation of hPSCs to cardiovascular and neurovascular cell

types. They strive to engineer fully-defined, animal component-

free differentiation platforms, compatible with biomanufacturing of cells and tissues for in vitro

and in vivo diagnostic and regenerative medicine applications.

3D Bioprinting Applications - Opening New Pathways in Scientific Research Dr. Simon MacKenzie

Chief Executive Officer, REGENHU

Abstract

Bioprinting is galvanizing healthcare. From academia to research institutions, right through to the

biotech and pharmaceutical industries, more and more institutions are harnessing the power of

bioprinting technologies and their applications to carry out their research goals.

In this talk, I will give a brief overview of REGENHU, 3D bioprinting applications, from drug

discovery to tablet formulation, and examples of how our partners have advanced their research

using our instruments. The aim of this talk to create more awareness of bioprinting, an ever-

evolving discipline still in its infancy, its many applications across a wide range of fields, and how

REGENHU’s bioprinting technologies can help researchers & scientist across all domains achieve

their research objectives.

Biography

An entrepreneur, researcher, and scientist, Simon

MacKenzie serves as REGENHU’S Chief Executive

Officer. For more than 19 years, Dr. MacKenzie held senior

positions in strategic business development in the domains

of pharma, drug discovery, biotech and research, and has

published several scientific papers.

Dr. MacKenzie has a PhD in Biochemistry from the

University of Dundee and completed two industrial

collaborative post-docs in inflammatory, oncology and

metabolic disease.

3D Bioprinting for Regenerative Medicine

Tamer Mohamed

CEO, Aspect Biosystems

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Abstract

Aspect Biosystems is a Canadian biotechnology company operating at the leading edge of 3D

printing and regenerative medicine. Our proprietary microfluidic 3D bioprinting platform is

enabling advances in biology, disease research, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine.

Aspects current clinical pipeline of therapeutic tissues has two main areas of focus: orthopaedic

implants and cellularized implants for metabolic diseases. Our lead orthopaedic indication is a

personalized 3D printed meniscus tissue for treatment of patients with severe meniscal tears. Our

second lead indication in preclinical development is an implantable 3D printed allogeneic tissue

patch for treatment of Type 1 Diabetes. In addition to our internal therapeutic tissue programs, we

strategically partner with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as academic

researchers, to create physiologically and commercially relevant tissues. These tissues are used to

advance and accelerate drug discovery and development, and enable the creation of cutting edge

tissue therapies of the future.

Biography

An entrepreneur, engineer, inventor, Tamer currently serves

as CEO of Aspect Biosystems. Tamer co-founded Aspect in

2013 and has played a leading role in the overall corporate,

business, and technology development. Under his

leadership, Aspect has secured significant funding, entered

strategic collaborations with best-in-class pharmaceutical

and biotechnology companies, and developed commercial

products. In his previous appointment as Chief Technology

Officer of the company, Tamer drove the innovation and

development of the company’s core technologies and

intellectual property.

As a leader in the field of 3D bioprinting, he has been invited to speak on this topic at venues

ranging from TEDx to industry, scientific and executive conferences. In 2017, he was awarded

BC's Top 40 under 40 award for demonstrating excellence in business, judgement, leadership, and

community contribution. Tamer serves on the Board of Directors for ACETECH, a non-profit

training and mentoring organization for CEOs of technology and life sciences companies, and on

the Board of Directors for The Stem Cell Network, an organization focused on building Canada’s

stem cell and regenerative medicine research sector.

Protein and Cell Interactions with Biomaterials Are the Basis for Device Acceptance or Rejection by the Body

Thomas Horbett Professor emeritus, Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering, University of Washington,

Seattle, Washington

Abstract Probably the single most important event of my scientific career was a visit to the McMaster University laboratories of Professors J. Fraser Mustard and Raelene L. Kinlough-Rathbone to learn about preparing and radiolabeling blood platelets. My visit was made possible because of the help of John Brash and Irwin Feuerstein. Many of my lab’s subsequent studies involved use of platelets. So in making my presentation at this workshop in honor of John Brash, I will emphasize some of the major findings about platelets and biomaterials made in my laboratory, probably the most important of which is the ability of platelets to adhere to polymeric surfaces having even very low levels of fibrinogen adsorbed from blood plasma. In addition, at the request of Professor Sask, I will spend some time explaining the methods we developed for quantitative measurement of protein adsorption to surfaces from complex mixtures of proteins such as plasma or serum using the 125I- radiolabeled protein method.

Biography Professor Horbett did research and teaching in biomaterials for over 40 years the University of Washington (UW) after receiving his PhD in biochemistry from the UW in 1970. He received many NIH grants and published many research articles related to his main research area of protein and cell interactions with biomaterials. He received the Society for Biomaterials Award (SFB) for Research in 1989 and became an SFB fellow 1994 and an International fellow in 1996. He became a fellow of the AIMBE in 1995. In 2018, he received a Founder’s Award from the SFB.

Designing bioink, bioresin and spheroid bioassembly platforms

Professor Tim Woodfield, PhD, FBSE

Director, Christchurch Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (CReaTE) Group

Director, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine

University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract

Biofabrication technologies, including 3D bioprinting and bioassembly, enable the generation of

engineered constructs that replicate the complex 3D organization of native tissues via automated

hierarchical placement of cell-laden bioinks, tissue modules, and/or bioactive factors. Photo-initiated

radical polymerization combining light and photo-initiators to generate radicals for crosslinking photo-

polymerizable macromers, has been widely employed in 3D bioprinting of cell-laden hydrogels. Despite

rapid advances in biofabrication technologies, no universal bioink exists. The major challenge for

translational regenerative medicine is that the processing requirements (biofabrication window) of current

bioinks is narrow, requiring optimization of each bioink for each individual biofabrication technique and

specific tissue niche e.g. high viscosity “shear thinning” bioinks necessary for extrusion bioprinting versus

low viscosity bioinks for lithography-based bioprinting. This presentation discusses alternative strategies

to provide highly tunable bioinks that 1) promote a specific cell-instructive niche and 2) are printable across

multiple biofabrication technologies, including extrusion-, lithography- and microfluidic-based bioprinting.

This talk will describe the design of versatile, photo-clickable bioinks and bioresins for biofabrication of in

vitro models targeting cartilage, bone and vascular network regeneration, and how their convergence with

3D spheroid bioassembly and dual perfusion bioreactor (MPS) platforms offer new paradigms for high-

throughput screening, “on-chip” and osteochondral tissue repair applications.

Biography

Tim Woodfield is Professor of Regenerative Medicine at

the University of Otago Christchurch, New Zealand. He

holds a prestigious Rutherford Discovery Fellowship from

the Royal Society of New Zealand, and is Principal

Investigator within the Medical Technologies Centre of

Research Excellence (CoRE). His research technology

platform involves complex 3D Biofabrication and Additive

Manufacturing of biomaterial scaffolds and medical

devices applied to regenerative medicine of cartilage and

bone, including advanced 3D tissue culture models and

high throughput screening. He has published over 105 peer reviewed journal articles, book

chapters and published conference proceedings (h-index: 30). He is the current President Elect and

Executive Board Member of the International Society for Biofabrication (ISBF). He is the former

President of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering (ASBTE), and was

recently awarded the ASBTE Award for Research Excellence. He also sits on the Tissue

Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society Asia Pacific (TERMIS-AP)

Council, and is an Editorial Board Member for Biofabrication, APL Bioengineering, and Frontiers

in Bioengineering & Biotechnology.

Growth of nanostructured patterns by plasmas for biomedical applications

Uroš Cvelbar

Head, Department for Gaseous Electronics (F-6), Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39,

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

Plasma as a discharge state of the gas is considered nowadays as a cutting-edge tool which can

manipulate objects at the atomic or molecular scale. Furthermore, plasma can also tailor the

surfaces beyond morphology by creating targeted chemical bonds or modifying underlaying

material. These kinds of surfaces possess certain properties which can control the interactions with

components of living systems, inducing favourable response from the biological entities, and as

such can direct the course of a therapy or diagnostic procedure. In this respect, plasmas can be

used to initiate even more favourable surface morphologies or selective responses, enabling the

biomaterials even more favourable or selective interaction.

In this talk, I will report the developments on the field of cold plasma nanotexturing of organic or

inorganic materials for targeted response of cells, recognition of bacteria or single organic

molecules relevant to biomedicine. The special attention will be given to cases like plasma

texturing and nanostructuring of polymers for targeted attraction of different cells or its

differentiation, or inorganic materials like metal oxides, metal alloys, etc. for targeted trapping,

adhesion and recognition of bacteria or other single molecules of interest. The aim of all these is

either to improve biocompatibility of plasma nanostructured material, e.g. before body

implantation, or use the surface for biomedical diagnostic purposes and detection, e.g. reusable

SERS substrates for detection and recognition of bacteria.

Biography

Professor Cvelbar’s research focusses on advancing

nanoscience, nanotechnology, biomaterials, biotechnology

and biomedicine in the cross-roads with plasma science.

Prof Cvelbar has authored +175 international peer-reviewed

journal publications, several books and +18 patents. Prof

Cvelbar’s research has been continuously supported by

different National Research Councils (e.g. ARRS, MIZŠ),

European Union, NATO, and also attracts significant

interest from industrial partners. He is executive board

member of DST at Electrochemical Society, the chair of

Plasma Nanoscience, fellow of WAAS and associated editor

of several journals. Prof Cvelbar has successfully

supervised to completion 7 PhD students and 10 MSc

students. He is currently involved in the supervision of 5

PhD students. Additionally, he has managed and mentored of 9 postdoctoral (PD) research fellows,

all of whom have remained in engineering/science and have secured employment in industry or

academia. Currently, advising 3 PD research fellows.

3D Bioprinting for in vitro Tissue Engineering

W. Sun

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University, USA

Biomanufacturing Center, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Abstract

3D Bio-Printing uses living cells to build in vitro physiological models. The printed tissue models

have been widely applied to regenerative medicine, studying disease pathogenesis, developing

molecular therapeutics, and screening drugs. This presentation will review the basic principle of

cell printing and report our recent study on printing in vitro tissue models for regenerative

medicine, disease study and drug testing. An overview of a cell printing process and enabling

printing techniques will be introduced, followed by examples of printing different tissue models

for tissue engineering and drug testing, including printing ESCs for formation of embryonic body,

printing hiPSC cells for hepatocyte differentiation and integration with microfluidics for drug

testing, printing neuron cells to construct in vitro neural network and studying DNQX influence,

and printing cancer (Hela) cells to build 3D in vitro tumor models for studying chemoresistance

and expressions of genes and tumor markers. Comparison of biological data derived from 3D

printed models with 2D planar models in petri-dishes will be given wherever appropriate. A

personal opinion on challenges and opportunities of 3D bio-printing will also be shared.

Biography

Wei Sun, Albert Soffa Chair Professor of Mechanical

Engineering, Drexel University, and National “Thousand-

Talent” Distinguished Professor and Director of

Biomanufacturing Center, Tsinghua University, China. Dr.

Sun’s research has been on Biofabrication, 3D Bio-Printing,

and Tissue Engineering. Dr. Sun’s research has been funded

by NSF, DARPA, NASA, the Chinese Natural Science

Foundation, the Chinese Ministry of Science and

Technology, and the Chinese Ministry of Education. Dr.

Sun has published over 150+ peer-reviewed journal papers

with 9100+ SCI citations, 70+ patent applications, and 350+

invited presentations in the field of his research. Dr. Sun is

the Founding President for International Society of Biofabrication (2010-2014), and the Founding

Editor-in-Chief for journal Biofabrication (2009-present). Dr. Sun received Award of

Distinguished Visiting Fellow from the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK (2018), the Senior

Investigator Award from International Society of Biofabrication (2017), and MII / Fralin Visiting

Scholar Award from Virginia Tech (2015).

Personalized implants

Willem van Oeveren

Director Haemoscan. Laboratory for Blood Compatibility and biomarker detection

Stavangerweg 23-23, 9723JC Groningen, The Netherlands

Abstract

Thrombosis and inflammation are responses of blood components to any foreign body. With a few

exceptions these responses should be kept to a minimum.

Implant materials are being tested extensively before clinical use with random animal or human

blood, with the assumption that all species and recipients show a comparable response to a certain

type of material.

However, thrombotic and inflammatory reactions are highly different between individuals,

resulting in either tolerance or in unacceptable high levels of activation with the same material. In

particular the extend of thrombosis shows marked differences between individuals, which can be

visualized and quantified in detail by sensitive surface markers.

Many implant procedures are elective, which allows a screening protocol to be performed in

advance. This protocol should be performed with a small amount of blood from the patient in an

in vitro test system with the implant material. By intensive contact of blood with material is such

system data can be obtained in a short period of time. The outcome of the tests could result in

choice for another type of material, another coating, or a negative advice to consider implantation

of foreign body materials.

Biography

Mr Willem van Oeveren studied Medical Biology and

obtained a PhD in medicine on blood activation during use

of a heart-lung machine. As associate professor at the

university hospital in Groningen, The Netherlands, he

(co)authored more than 200 peer reviewed articles.

Since 1999 he participates in the ISO10993 working

committee.

In 2004 Willem was the founder of Haemoscan, which is a

privately owned laboratory for Blood Compatibility and

Biomarker analysis, which he is leading today. Haemoscan became a certified laboratory dedicated

to blood activation during contact with biomaterials, which is tested in fresh blood from healthy

human volunteers.