3D printing of polymers for biomedical applications

The Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group of Ghent University contributes to a new generation of biomedical applications and sustainable biomaterials, in order to improve current medical strategies. To this end, smart materials such as functional biomedical polymers, biocompatible coatings and advanced gene or drug delivery systems are being developed through modifications of (bio)polymers, various types of polymerizations (starting from both synthetic monomers and natural monomers) as well as surface modifications. State-of-the-art equipment is available to characterise polymer bulk and surface properties. Available processing techniques of these (bio)polymers include rapid prototyping (laser- and extrusion-based), (co-extrusion) electrospinning and combinations thereof, enabling the construction of 3D patient-specific implants. Biocompatibility and stem cell differentiation assays are being performed to assess and tune the properties of the material according to the application needs. Currently, researchers of the PBM group are working on wound dressings, maxillofacial reconstruction, ocular applications, meniscus tissue engineering, breast reconstruction, an in vitro liver model, muscle regeneration, bone tissue engineering, cardiovascular applications and an in vitro intestine model. This will result in a paradigm shift, changing the way that patients will be treated in the future.