BIOMATERIALS are the KEY to innovation in life sciencesIt is matter of fact that many of the important developments and breakthroughs in medical technologies and life sciences in general have been enabled by polymeric biomaterials. A few examples: Solid-support synthesis such as the Merrifield protein synthesis ushered in proteomics, peptide drugs and genomics and it was made possible by a common polymer - polystyrene. Polystyrene is the backbone of cell and tissue culture and without it the radio immunoassay and its successor the ELISA would have not materialized. Polymers such as polyurethanes, ethylene vinyl acetate and silicone elastomers enabled the development of controlled release systems which has revolutionized how medication is administered. Polymeric systems, in particular degradable polyesters enabled the realization of regenerative medical technologies such as Tissue Engineering in the 1990's, and in the 21st century is the cornerstone of Nanomedicine, which is poised to change how we detect, diagnose, and treat everything from the common cold to cancer. Our efforts are focused on:
- in vivo regenerative therapies and drug delivery
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