Next Generation Biomaterials Discovery

Advanced biomaterials are essential components in targeting infectious diseases and cancers, realising the potential of regenerative medicine and the medical devices of the future. A multidisciplinary team spanning Engineering, Science and Medical Faculties in Nottingham, in collaboration with 4 leading international groups has combined to realise the vision of materials discovery in 3D. Without this leap beyond 2D screening methodologies we will miss new advanced materials because they omit architecture and often poorly represent the in vivo environment. The aim is to allow us to move beyond the existing limited range of generic bioresorbable polymeric drug and cell delivery agents currently licensed for use in man and medical device polymers, to bespoke materials identified to function optimally for specific applications.

We know that defining chemistry, stiffness, topography and shape can control the response of cells to materials. This programme will focus on producing and testing large libraries of these attributes in the form of patterned surfaces, particles and more complex architectures. New materials will be identified for application in the areas of targeted drug delivery, regenerative medicine and advanced materials for next generation medical devices.

The 3D screening methods will define a new landscape in biomaterials discovery and create the platforms through which more effective advanced materials will be discovered. Our three ambitious application focussed areas provide high impact examples in which our biomaterials leads are developed towards exploitation in the clinic. These downstream projects will be carried out in both academic and commercial research programmes funded through partnering, licensing and formation of spin-outs as appropriate.

Beneficiaries from the proposed research will include:

- In the short-term, researchers in the Programme Grant's challenge areas will benefit from the provision of new materials with which to develop biomaterial solutions to healthcare needs. When these materials make their way to the clinic, patients will benefit from improved biomaterials that will result in reduced morbidity and mortality. Clinicians will benefit through the provision of increased treatment options.
- Society will benefit from reduced healthcare costs associated with hospital associated infections, reduced medical implant rejection and improved quality of life for the ageing population.
- Commercial partners in regenerative medicine, the pharmaceutical industry and medical devices will benefit from the generation of new revenue streams associated with new materials which will positively influence the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom.
- The methodologies developed will have significant impact in the materials scientific research community, facilitating the vision of targeted materials function. These will be applicable beyond healthcare to various sectors including energy, food and manufacturing.
- The researchers involved in the programme and investigators will benefit from highly interdisciplinary training in the growth area of materials and exposure to different ways of working within the UK and international partners.

From a commercial perspective, research is targeted to be directly relevant to 3 broad groups of beneficiaries with whom we have close working relationships established through current research projects:

- In Regenerative Medicine we are collaborating with GE Healthcare, Intercytex, Mica Technologies, Haemostatix, Neusentis, Locate Therapeutics, Neotherix, NCTS, Tokyo Electron and Syngenta.
- In Pharmaceutics, we are collaborating with GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Greenpharma, UCB Pharma, PsiOxus, Novozymes, Boots and Molecular Profiles.
- In Medical Devices we are collaborating with Smith and Nephew, Dow Corning, Arterius, Camstent, Protip Medical, Tensive Medical and J&J Visioncare.


Examples of expected outputs include:-

- The discovery of lead material-topography combinations for stem cell differentiation into bone.
- Polymers with the potential to efficiently traffic therapeutics through the body to deliver them preferentially in the vicinity of infections and tumours.
- Mature cardiomyocytes for drug toxicity screening in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Materials which have an immune instructive effect to reduce failure for dental and orthopaedic implants.
- ChemoTopo Chips that will be of use in screening for cell instructive materials in the regenerative medicine industry.
- New 3D models of polymicrobial infections to identify future strategies for preventing/treating chronic infections. This will enable transformational approaches to be taken to meet unmet clinical needs.