The current development of biomaterials employs the preparation of materials with distinct properties, including ceramics and polymers. Depending on the application, it may be useful to use different materials, or a combination of biomaterials with different properties, trying to find the best combination in terms of biocompatibility, biodegradability, immune response, mechanical properties and others. Biodegradable polymers (both from natural and synthetic origin) have been successfully used as raw materials for the processing of scaffolds. Several of the partners of the NoE have a great experience on using different polymers and on designing and synthesising new polymers for different functionalities. Consequently, it will be possible to develop and study in direct comparison and all range of degradable polymers. Within the field of bone tissue engineering, hydroxyapatite has also been one of the leading materials, mainly because it mimics the inorganic phase of the bone extracellular matrix. However, the main source of hydroxyapatite - laboratory synthesized hydroxyapatite - has shown not to be the ideal material, because it does not possess the required pore size, and is not resorbed by the organism in the first five years after implantation. Other sources of hydroxyapatite also not ideal, include coral, and cattle bones. An alternative to these sources is calcareous red algae. This apatite material shows a high interconnecting pore structure and, therefore, served as an osteoconductive structure.

The partners involved in this research vector will:

• Design materials with the correct chemistry;
• Producing new macromolecules, nano-materials, smart materials, nano-structured materials, and others;
• Try to understand the available choices among existing biomaterials that qualify for a certain specific application, and study them in parallel.