The Bio-Materials Research Unit (part of the Biomaterials & Biomolecular Research Group) is an interdisciplinary group of biochemists, biologists, chemists, chemical engineers and materials scientists. Over the twenty-five years since its formation, the group's main activities have centred on polymeric biomaterials. Working closely with clinical collaborators and companies enables the work to be approached from broadly based fundamental, clinical and commercial viewpoints.
The philosophy has been, wherever possible, to work from fundamental molecular engineering principles and encompass synthesis, fabrication and clinical evaluation within the research. The group at Aston is one of the very few longstanding academic centres with expertise in the design, synthesis and characterisation of polymer-based biomaterials and with parallel activity in the study of their interaction with biological systems.
Some reflection of the standing of the group is evidenced by not only Research Council, EU and Department of Health support but also on-going funding from major US-based and international companies. Within the research activities of the group, two themes play an important part. One is our emphasis on the anterior eye as a body site - the other is the study of hydrogel polymers as a family of materials. The group has unique academic expertise in the design, synthesis and biological interaction of these materials, and uniquely equipped laboratories to support these activities.
The publications strategy of the group centres on the presentation of at least ten new posters per annum at the major UK/European ophthalmic conferences (European Vision & Eye Research and British Contact Lens Association). These appear in two Journals - Ophthalmic Research and Contact Lens, and Anterior Eye. Patents and additional Journal publications appear as appropriate. The formation of Aston's Business Partnership Unit ensures that industry and ultimately the university are beneficiaries of the work.
Our studies of the interaction of the polymer surfaces with living biological systems, particularly contact lenses and the tear film are internationally recognised and increasingly underpin understanding this and related areas.
Considerable progress has been made on the synthesis of biologically sustainable interpenetrating networks as analogues of natural tissue. Earlier work on artificial cartilage has been extended to artificial cornea, intraocular lenses and now to injectable intervertebral disc reinforcement.
Our work on the design and synthesis of responsive surface active polymers and novel amphiphilic nanostructures has led to novel platform technology with a range of therapeutic applications including synthetic biolubricants for treatment of articular joints together with respiratory distress and dry eye syndromes and applications in novel drug carriers in ocular delivery systems.
The work of the group is underpinned by a strong ongoing activity in the synthesis and properties of novel hydrogels using the principles of molecular engineering using novel monomers and macromers. This is important in many of our programmes, for example work on skin-related applications such as wound dressings and dermal delivery systems.
Within our research programmes we maintain the freedom and ability to extend our interdisciplinary skills into emerging areas, such as the design of disposable barrier systems to address the problems of ocular cross-infection in the use of contact tonometry and related instrumental procedures.
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