Developing biomaterials for regeneration of the body.

At Helmholtz Center Hereon, we are researching materials that will one day be suitable for medical solutions, such as treating complicated bone fractures using regenerative medicine. We investigate the properties of these materials and the interactions of material and tissue with one main question in mind: how can the materials support the body in its regeneration? To solve this, we are looking at biodegradable polymers with shape memory that stimulate stem cells to turn into bone cells, among other things. The programmed polymer films populated with cells could later be used in the treatment of complicated bone fractures when they do not heal on their own.

We are also investigating implants based on magnesium. These can be inserted after a fracture and then completely broken down by the body, thereby stimulating bone growth and eliminating the need for a second operation. The aim of this research is to identify the factors of degradation precisely and decipher all the properties of magnesium alloys. Thus, through specifically tailored properties and functions, modern biomaterials open up medical possibilities that were previously not feasible.

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