Biomaterials play a crucial role in modern medicine, where they are increasingly being used for various medical applications, ranging from diagnostics to medical implants. The most important aspect is that these materials come into direct contact with human tissue and the cells within it. The body reacts to these biomaterials, which can lead to changes in cell behavior, such as an immune response during implantation. These findings have led us to shift our research toward the development of bio-instructive materials that stimulate beneficial cellular responses rather than remaining passive. Cells respond to specific characteristics of biomaterials, such as chemical composition, stiffness, and surface structure. Understanding how these material parameters influence cell behavior is vital for the further development of implantable technologies and medical devices. To this end, BiomACS has developed a screening platform technology to screen how biomaterials can influence cell adhesion, spreading, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, the BiomACS platform offers the possibility to investigate the effects of different material properties on cell behavior on a larger scale and with greater precision. The integration of new technologies with standardized research methods increases the accessibility of these approaches, resulting in a better understanding of the complex interactions between cells and biomaterials, and ultimately contributing to further advances in medical science.
Publications:
- T.A.B. van der Boon, L. Yang, L. Li, D.E. Córdova Galván, Q. Zhou, J. de Boer, P. van Rijn*, “Well Plate Integrated Topography Gradient Screening Technology for Studying Cell‐Surface Topography Interactions” , Advanced Biosystems , 2020 , 1900218.
- Zhou, L. Ge, C. Guimarães, P.T. Kühn, L. Yang, P. van Rijn*, “ Development of a Novel Orthogonal Double Gradient for High-Throughput Screening of Mesenchymal Stem Cells–Materials Interaction ”, Adv. Mater. Interfaces, 2018 , 1800504.
- Q. Zhou, O. Castañeda Ocampo, C. Guimarães, P.T. Kühn, T.G. van Kooten, P. van Rijn*, “ Screening platform for cell contact guidance based on inorganic biomaterial micro/nanotopographical gradients ”, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces , 2017 , 9 (37), 31433.
- Q. Zhou, P. Wünnemann, P. T. Kühn, J. de Vries, M. Helmin, A. Böker, T. G. van Kooten, P. van Rijn*, “ Mechanical properties of aligned nanotopologies for directing cellular behavior ” Adv. Mater. Interfaces , 2016 , 1600275.
- T. Kuhn, Q. Zhou, T. van der Boon, A. M. Schaap-Oziemlak, T. G. van Kooten, P. van Rijn*, “ Double linear gradient biointerfaces for determining two-parameter dependent stem cell behavior ” ChemNanoMat , 2016 , 2, 407.
- Q. Zhou, P. T. Kühn, T. Huisman, E. Nieboer, C. van Zwol, T. G. van Kooten, P. van Rijn*, “Directional nanotopographic gradients” a high-throughput screening platform for cell contact guidance ” Sci. Rep. 2015 , 5, 16240. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep16240