It is very difficult that a scaffold with good bulk properties for use in the tissue engineering field also possesses the required surface characteristics. It follows that most of the biomaterials need surface modification to acquire surface characteristics that allow for cell adhesion and proliferation and an adequate biological response from the host. It is consequently needed that the NoE is capable of developing knowledge and methodologies that allow for the tailoring of the surface characteristics of the scaffolds.

This will result in:

• Surface modifications will be performed by an all range of methods, including plasma activation, etching and grafting, chemical grafting with several monomers, g-irradiation grafting, crosslinking, laser modification of polymers, incorporation of phosphate groups, calcification/biomimetic procedures and immobilization of RGD peptides;
• Development of specific micro (nano) patterning methodologies;
• The development of several methodologies in order to tailor the surface chemistry/topology (roughness) of the materials developed;
• To optimise their interaction with cells and tissues;
• The ability to control cell adhesion proliferation and eventually differentiation.